Costs & Charges
How much does a tooth extraction cost in the UK?
By The Local Dentist Editorial · Updated 13 July 2026
The NHS price: one Band 2 charge
Extraction is Band 2 treatment in England, charged at £75.30 for 2025/26 — and because NHS charges apply per course of treatment rather than per item, that single charge covers the examination, X-rays, the extraction itself, and any other Band 2 work such as fillings done in the same course. Removing two teeth costs the same as removing one. Wales charges £60 for the equivalent course. In Scotland and Northern Ireland, extractions are charged item by item at 80% of the item cost, capped at £384 per course, with NHS examinations free in Scotland. The usual exemptions apply everywhere: under-18s, pregnant women and new mothers, HC2 holders, and those on qualifying benefits pay nothing.
Private prices and what moves them
A private extraction typically costs £100–350. The spread reflects difficulty: a straightforward extraction of a loose or single-rooted tooth sits at the lower end, while surgical extractions — teeth broken at the gumline, multi-rooted molars, or removals requiring the gum to be lifted or the tooth sectioned — sit at the top and sometimes beyond it. The quote should be per tooth and confirmed after an examination and X-ray, since difficulty is hard to judge from the outside. As with all private dentistry, prices are set by each practice, so comparing a couple of quotes is reasonable for planned (non-urgent) extractions — and check what aftercare or follow-up is included.
When extraction means a hospital referral
Some extractions are beyond a high-street appointment: deeply impacted wisdom teeth, teeth close to nerves, patients with complex medical histories, or those needing sedation or general anaesthetic. In these cases an NHS dentist refers you to hospital oral surgery or a specialist service, where NHS treatment is provided under hospital arrangements following the referral. Privately, specialist oral surgeons set their own fees, which can exceed the standard range — get an itemised quote. If anxiety rather than complexity is the barrier, ask about sedation: many practices offer it, it is often the cheaper path, and it is a standard comparison point on our listings.
Budget for what comes after
An extraction is often not the last cost — a visible gap usually prompts the replacement question, and that is where the real money sits. NHS options for filling a gap are dentures or a bridge, both Band 3 (£326.70 in England) as part of a course. Private options run from dentures (£600–2,500 for a full set) through bridges to a single dental implant at £1,800–3,000. None of this is compulsory — many gaps, especially at the back, are reasonably left alone — but ask your dentist to talk through replacement options and costs before the extraction, so the decision is made once, with the whole picture. If cost is tight, remember the NHS route covers everything clinically necessary.
People Also Ask
Do I pay per tooth for NHS extractions?
No — in England and Wales all extractions within one course of treatment are covered by the single Band 2 charge (£75.30 / £60). In Scotland and NI you pay 80% per item, capped at £384 per course.
Why do private extraction quotes vary so much?
Complexity. A simple extraction is quick; a surgical removal of a broken or multi-rooted tooth takes far longer and more skill. Expect £100–350, confirmed after an X-ray.
Is an urgent extraction charged differently on the NHS?
If the extraction is done within an urgent course of treatment, the urgent charge of £27.40 applies in England. Follow-up work afterwards is a new course at its normal band.
Does the NHS pay to replace an extracted tooth?
Dentures and bridges are available on the NHS at Band 3 (£326.70 in England) where clinically appropriate. Implants are almost never NHS-funded — they are private, typically £1,800–3,000 per tooth.
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This article is general information for UK patients, not clinical advice, and NHS rules and charges change — confirm current rules on nhs.uk or speak to a dentist before acting. For severe facial swelling affecting breathing/swallowing, uncontrolled bleeding, or trauma call 999 / go to A&E; otherwise NHS 111 for urgent dental access. Price figures are indicative benchmarks from ourmethodology.