NHS dental charges 2020-2021 on hold until October

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, NHS dental charges for the year from 1st April 2020 have not increased and remain at the same rate until the end of September 2020.

• Band 1 – £22.70
• Band 2 – £62.10
• Band 3 – £269.30
  

NHS dental charges for the year from 1st April 2019 increase to

• Band 1 – £22.70, an increase of £1.10 (2018 increase was £1.00)
• Band 2 – £62.10, an increase of £3.00 (2018 increase was £2.80)
• Band 3 – £269.30, an increase of £12.80 (2018 increase was £12.20)

You will not be charged for individual items within an NHS course of treatment.

Dental Treatment	also known as	NHS Band	2020-21	2019-20
New patient consultation	Check-up or Examination	Band 1	£22.70	£22.70
Basic x-rays	Bite Wings or Radiographs	inc patient consultation	£nil	£nil
Scale and polish	Basic hygiene clean	inc patient consultation	£nil	£nil
Hygiene deep scaling	Hygiene extended appointment	Band 2	£62.10	£62.10
Amalgam filling	Metal filling	Band 2	£62.10	£62.10
Composite filling	White filling	Band 2 (normally front teeth only)	£62.10	£62.10
Root canal treatment	Root filling	Band 2	£62.10	£62.10
Simple extraction	Tooth removal	Band 2	£62.10	£62.10
Crown	Cap on tooth	Band 3	£269.30	£269.30
Dentures	False teeth	Band 3	£269.30	£269.30

Depending on what you need to have done, you should only ever be asked to pay one charge, fixed at a rate according to one of the bands above. The fee is set for each completed course of treatment, even if you need to visit your dentist more than once to finish it. A course of dental treatment is completed when the treatment listed in your treatment plan is provided in full.

If the patient charges are not clear, ask your dentist to explain and request a written payment plan.

• Automated checks of NHS fees punish the wrong people
• Look after your NHS Dental Registration, or you may lose it

You contribute to your NHS dental treatment as per the bands above unless you are entitled to free dental care.  The main criteria of entitlement to free dental care are:

You are entitled if you are:

• aged under 18, or under 19 and in full-time qualifying education
• pregnant or have had a baby in the previous 12 months
• staying in an NHS hospital and your treatment is carried out by the hospital dentist
• an NHS hospital dental service outpatient – however, you may have to pay for your dentures or bridges

You are also entitled to free dental charges if you or your partner, including civil partner, receive, or you’re under the age of 20 and the dependant of someone receiving:

• Income Support
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
• Universal Credit and meet the criteria