NHS dental treatment in England is grouped into three patient-charge bands plus an urgent band. From 1 April 2026 the patient charges are Band 1 £27.90, Band 2 £76.60 and Band 3 £332.10, with urgent care at £27.90. A course of treatment is charged at the highest band it includes.
| Band | Patient charge | UDAs | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band 1 | £27.90 | 1 UDA | Examination, diagnosis and preventive care. |
| Band 2 | £76.60 | 3–7 UDAs (2a / 2b / 2c) | Band 1 plus fillings, root canals and extractions. |
| Band 3 | £332.10 | 12 UDAs | Bands 1 and 2 plus laboratory work (crowns, bridges, dentures). |
| Urgent | £27.90 | 1.2 UDAs | Emergency care to relieve pain or address urgent issues. |
A UDA (Unit of Dental Activity) is the NHS England contract currency used to measure and pay for NHS dental work — it is separate from the patient charge. The patient charge is the same across all Band 2 sub-bands (2a, 2b, 2c); only the UDA value differs.
NHS dental treatment in England is grouped into three patient-charge bands plus an urgent band. Band 1 covers examination, diagnosis and prevention. Band 2 adds further treatment such as fillings, root canals and extractions. Band 3 adds laboratory work such as crowns, bridges and dentures. The whole course of treatment is charged at the highest band it includes.
From 1 April 2026 the NHS England patient charges are £27.90 for Band 1, £76.60 for Band 2 and £332.10 for Band 3. Urgent treatment is also £27.90. These figures change annually — always verify the current charge on the NHS website before quoting a patient.
A UDA (Unit of Dental Activity) is the contract currency NHS England uses to measure and pay for NHS dental work — it is separate from the patient charge. The standard values are 1 UDA for Band 1, 12 UDAs for Band 3, and 1.2 UDAs for urgent treatment. Band 2 is sub-divided for UDA purposes into 2a (3 UDAs), 2b (5 UDAs) and 2c (7 UDAs) based on complexity, although the patient charge is the same across all three.
Yes. A course of treatment is charged at the highest band it contains. If a patient needs a scale and polish (Band 1) and a filling (Band 2) in the same course, the whole course is Band 2 — the patient pays one Band 2 charge, not one for each item.
Common exemptions include being under 18 (or under 19 in qualifying full-time education), being pregnant or having had a baby in the previous 12 months, and receiving certain income-related benefits such as Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Pension Credit Guarantee Credit or qualifying Universal Credit. Patients should always confirm their entitlement, as charges may be recovered if a claim is incorrect.
No. This tool organises the published NHS England band rules for reference only. It is not clinical or financial advice and does not cover Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, which use different charging structures. Always confirm the current charge, band and UDA value against official NHS sources.
Reference only — not clinical or financial advice. Charges apply to NHS dental treatment in England only; Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland differ. Verify the current charge and UDA value against official NHS sources.
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