How to Pay for Dental Treatment in the UK
The coronavirus pandemic led thousands of UK dentists to stop offering NHS care.
The Nuffield Trust estimates that six million fewer courses of NHS dental treatment were provided in 2022 than in the pre-pandemic year; funding in 2021/22 was over £500m lower in real terms than in 2014/15; and there are widespread problems in accessing a dentist.
Since the pandemic, this issue has only grown worse as there are longer waiting lists and an increased demand for NHS services.
Now, with many more in need of treatment and without the ability to gain affordable care, we explain how much dental care costs in the UK and how you can raise funds to pay for it.
Overview of dental care in the UK
Within the UK, there are two routes to go down for dental care – through the NHS or private treatment.
NHS dental care is based on eligibility.
You do not have to pay for NHS dental services if you’re:
- under 18, or under 19 and in full-time education
- pregnant or have had a baby in the last 12 months
- being treated in an NHS hospital and your treatment is carried out by the hospital dentist (but you may have to pay for any dentures or bridges)
- receiving low income benefits, or you’re under 20 and a dependant of someone receiving low income benefits
Private dental care offers different types of services to people who need it.
The benefits of this are you can usually get tailored, immediate care. There’s usually not long waiting periods for care and you can get a wider range of issues looked at.
Cost of dental treatment
Dentistry in the UK is not free and can be expensive.
Dental treatment that is medically necessary to keep your mouth, teeth and gums healthy and pain-free is available on the NHS, but most adults have to pay a contribution towards their care.
This can include emergency care that is needed potentially after an accident, or if a filling comes out, or if someone is in a great amount of pain.
This Department of Health and Social Care report and annual accounts for 2022/23 shows that £2.899bn was spent on NHS dentistry.
This means there have been large cuts, with the budget falling by over a third in real terms since 2010 – a real cut of £1bn.
Essentially, less money has been spent on dentistry in recent years by the Government.
Orthodontic treatment, such as braces, is only available on the NHS if there is a medical need for it. Cosmetic treatment, such as teeth whitening, is only offered privately. On the NHS you can have your teeth removed, but if you want to have a replacement you will need to pay privately.
NHS dental treatment costs 2024
NHS dental fees are set by the government and are the same for all NHS patients. The charges are reviewed annually and usually change in April.
In Scotland and Northern Ireland, you will be charged 80 per cent of the cost of your NHS dental treatment, up to a maximum of £384 per course.
In England and Wales, NHS dental treatment is split into three price bands. We’ve outlined below how they are split up.
|
Band |
England |
Wales |
|
Band 1 |
£26.80 |
£20.00 |
|
Band 2 |
£73.50 |
£60.00 |
|
Band 3 |
£319.10 |
£260.00 |
Band 1 costs £26.80 in England and £20 in Wales. It covers an examination, diagnosis, advice, minor corrections, any necessary X-rays and further treatment plans.
Band 2 costs £73.50 in England and £60 in Wales. It covers everything in Band 1, plus extra treatment such as fillings, root canal treatment and extractions.
There’s a big jump to Band 3, which costs £319.10 in England and £260 in Wales. This bracket covers all the above, plus any more complicated dental treatment such as crowns, dentures and bridges. See the NHS website for full details.
NHS patients only pay once for each type of treatment, even if you need to make multiple visits to complete it.
There is no extra charge if, within two months of completing NHS dental treatment, you need more treatment from the same or lower charge band. Fillings, root fillings, inlays, porcelain veneers and crowns are all guaranteed for 12 months.
How much does emergency dental work cost?
NHS patients needing emergency dental work are charged the lowest Band 1 fee of £26.80. If you need a dentist in the middle of the night, call 111 to find your nearest out-of-hours dental service.
Most urgent treatments are completed in one appointment but your dentist may advise you to make another appointment for further, non-urgent treatment. This will be priced according to the NHS price bands listed above.
NHS emergency dental costs
Band 1 fee for emergency dental care in England and Wales covers a wide range of work.
Band 1 is £26.80 and £20 in Wales.
Band 1 treatment includes:
- examination, assessment and advice
- X-rays
- diagnosis and treatment planning
- scale and polish (if clinically needed)
- an orthodontic assessment and report
- marginal correction of fillings
- moulds of your teeth, for example to see how your teeth bite together
- colour photographs
- putting sealants or fluoride preparations on the surface of your teeth
- taking a sample of cells or tissue from your mouth for examination
- adjusting false teeth (dentures) or orthodontic appliances, such as braces
- treatment for sensitive teeth or roots
Private emergency dental costs
Sometimes there may be an issue where you simply can’t wait for NHS care and need to go private.
Private dental care costs vary significantly depending on what treatment is needed. It can start off small, for a filling, or can get larger in cases where emergency surgery may be involved.
The average cost of private dental care in the UK can vary widely depending on the practice and location. Here are some average costs for different types of private dental care:
- Initial consultation: £74
- Routine check-up: £20–£120
- Hygiene treatment: £80+
- White filling: £90+
- Teeth whitening: £350+
- Dental veneer: £650+
- Invisalign: £1,995+
- Dental implant surgical placement: £1,800+
Who is eligible for free NHS dental treatment?
NHS dental treatment in the UK is only free if you’re under 18, under 19 and in full-time education, pregnant or have had a baby in the previous 12 months.
It’s also free if you are receiving low-income benefits, have a spouse who is receiving low-income benefits or you are under 20 and dependent on someone who is receiving low-income benefits.
NHS dentists may require written proof that you don’t have to pay for your dental treatment and you’ll be asked to sign a form.
No NHS patient has to pay for denture repair or the removal of stitches. The NHS website also notes that you will not be charged if your dentist has to stop blood loss.
There is also no charge if your NHS dentist only has to write out a prescription, but note that you will still have to pay the £9.90 prescription charge at the pharmacy.
How to apply
The NHS does provide helpful advice about how to apply for help with dentist costs.
You’ll only ever be asked to pay a single charge for each complete course of treatment, even if you need to visit your dentist more than once to finish it.
If you’re referred to another dentist for another, separate course of treatment, you can expect a second charge. Some minor treatments are free.
The NHS Low Income Scheme (LIS) may provide help with some of the cost of your dental care if you have a low income but do not qualify for free dental care.
You can also check here to see if you can have an exemption from paying for dental care, with advice on what forms you need to fill in.
How to pay for dental work
Your dental health is hugely important.
Regular dental checks can prevent serious issues down the road in later life, which could be more costly, so it’s vital you keep up to date with your dentist.
While there may be high costs sometimes associated with this, different payment options and strategies are available to alleviate financial stress.
Look after your teeth
Prevention is better than cure and the best way to pay for dental work is to avoid needing it in the first place! Keep teeth and gums healthy by cutting down on sugary and starchy food and drinks, brushing your teeth with fluoride toothpaste twice daily, using dental floss daily and going for regular dental check-ups.
Your diet and general health also contribute towards having good dental health. Smoking and other aggravating health factors can have a negative effect on your teeth and all round health.
Buy dental insurance or private health insurance
Buying dental insurance or private medical insurance means paying a set monthly or yearly premium, but if you’re prone to dental problems, any pricey private dental treatment plan will be covered by your insurer and might make better financial sense in the long run.
Be sure to check the policy wording carefully as many insurance policies cap how much they pay out towards dental treatment. Private health insurance is sometimes offered as an employee benefit, so check with yours before forking out for a policy.
Sign up for the NHS low income scheme
If you have a low income and less than £16,000 in savings, you can apply for the NHS Low Income Scheme. If accepted, you can get help paying for dental work. If you’ve already paid for NHS dental work, you can apply for a refund at the same time as applying for the scheme. The amount of financial assistance you’ll be offered will depend on your income and outgoings.
There is also a savings threshold available for people in care homes.
You can apply for the scheme as long as your savings, investments or property (not including where you live) do not exceed the capital limit.
In England, the limit is:
- £23,250 for people who live permanently in a care home
- £16,000 for everyone else
Reach out to oral health charities
If you’re suffering physically and emotionally from dental problems yet lack the funds to pay for treatment, try getting in touch with oral health charities such as Dentaid and the Oral Health Foundation, to see if they can offer help paying for dental treatment.
If they can’t, they may be able to promote a crowdfunding page on a blog, social media platform or email newsletter, or at least offer helpful advice.
Volunteer to be treated by a student dentist
One way of getting free dental care is to volunteer to be treated by a student dentist. Undergraduates are always supervised by a fully-trained dentist, who will step in if needs be.
Bear in mind that your treatment will take longer and you will likely only be accepted if your complaint is relatively routine. Some student clinics only accept patients who are not registered with another dentist.
Get in touch with universities that offer dentistry as a degree, such as King’s College London, Newcastle and Glasgow, and ask about the opportunity for free dental care.
Take out a loan
There are specialist loans available for the most expensive treatments, such as cosmetic procedures and implants. Loans allow you to borrow money and pay it back in instalments over an agreed amount of time. The drawback is that you will usually be charged interest.
Many dentists also offer a buy now pay later scheme. While you may not be charged interest, you will incur fees if you are late for your payments – so if you choose to do this make sure you are confident that you will be able to make monthly payments.
Start crowdfunding
If you’ve been hit by unexpected dental costs you can’t afford, asking for help is always an option.
Be prepared to tell your story honestly, explaining the physical and emotional impact your dental problem is having on your life and why you need financial support. Be inspired by fundraisers such as Elena Durey. Elena was in need of what she called “urgent” dental care but said she could not afford the costs. She faced long waiting times post-covid and managed to raise a huge sum that could be put towards her care.
Share your GoFundMe fundraiser on social media in an effort to build a community around your cause and increase donations.
Should your crowdfunding campaign be successful, remember to update your donors on the huge difference their contributions have made to your health and wellbeing.
Get the help you need today
Paying for dental treatment might be expensive – and, in the case of emergency dental work, unplanned for – but the good news is that you can ask for help. GoFundMe makes crowdfunding quick and easy for everyone.
Setting up your GoFundMe fundraiser could not be simpler and our GoFundMe Guarantee keeps donors and beneficiaries safe.
GoFundMe is optimised for social sharing, so post your GoFundMe campaign on all your social platforms to maximise donations and get financial assistance for dental work today.