Costs & Charges
How much is an NHS dental check-up in 2026?
By The Local Dentist Editorial · Updated 13 July 2026
What the Band 1 charge covers
The £27.40 Band 1 charge in England is a fixed national fee for a complete course of routine assessment, not a menu of separate items. It covers the clinical examination, any X-rays the dentist decides you need, a scale and polish where clinically necessary, and preventive advice. You pay one charge for the whole course of treatment — the dentist cannot add extra NHS fees for X-rays or advice on top. Urgent NHS treatment is also charged at £27.40. Because the charge is set nationally, every NHS practice in England charges exactly the same, so there is no reason to shop around on the NHS price itself — though practices differ a lot on availability, opening hours, and private prices, which is where comparison helps.
Who pays nothing for an NHS check-up
In England you do not pay NHS dental charges if you are under 18, or 18 and in full-time education; pregnant or have had a baby in the last 12 months (with a maternity exemption certificate); receiving NHS hospital dental treatment; named on an HC2 low-income scheme certificate; or receiving qualifying benefits. One common misunderstanding: being 60 or over does not make dental treatment free — that exemption applies to prescriptions, not dentistry. If you are unsure, our free NHS dental checker walks through the eligibility rules in under a minute, and the practice reception can confirm what evidence to bring.
Check-up charges across the UK
Each UK nation runs its own NHS dental charging system. England charges £27.40 for a Band 1 course. Wales uses the same three-band structure at lower rates, so a Band 1 course costs £20. Scotland makes NHS dental examinations free for everyone, though charges can still apply to treatment that follows. In Scotland and Northern Ireland, treatment is charged item by item — you pay 80% of the item cost, capped at £384 per course of treatment. What matters is where you are treated, not where you live, so if you have moved between nations expect the local rules to apply.
NHS check-up vs private check-up
A private check-up typically costs £45–95 depending on the practice and what is included — some bundle X-rays and a hygienist visit, others price them separately. Private examinations are often longer and easier to book at short notice, and they are the usual route where no NHS practice nearby is accepting new patients. Clinically, an NHS examination covers everything necessary to keep your mouth healthy; you are paying privately for access, time, and extras rather than a different standard of necessary care. If you visit regularly, a dental payment plan can spread the cost of private check-ups and hygiene visits into a monthly fee.
People Also Ask
Does the £27.40 include X-rays?
Yes. Band 1 covers the examination plus any X-rays the dentist decides are clinically necessary, along with a scale and polish if clinically needed. There is no extra NHS charge for X-rays within the course.
Can an NHS dentist charge me more than £27.40 for a check-up?
No. NHS dental charges are fixed nationally. A practice can only charge different prices for private treatment, which must be agreed with you in advance on a written treatment plan.
Is a check-up free once I am 60?
No. Unlike NHS prescriptions, there is no age-60 exemption for dental charges in England. You pay the Band 1 charge unless you qualify through another route, such as the HC2 low-income scheme or qualifying benefits.
How often do I need to pay for a check-up?
You pay the Band 1 charge each time you have a new course of examination. How often you need one depends on your dental health — your dentist sets a recall interval based on risk rather than a fixed six months.
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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.