NHS Info & Fees

New NHS Patients

Demand for NHS services is currently outstripping capacity at the practice, by some distance. We are therefore unable to accept any new NHS patients at the present time.

Existing NHS Patients

You should see a dentist regularly for routine check-ups even if you are not experiencing any problem with your mouth or teeth. Attending regularly helps you and your dentist to keep your mouth, teeth and gums in good health and pain-free. Your dentist will tell you how often you need a routine check-up. The clinically recommended maximum intervals are up to 24 months for adults and up to 12 months for children. Within these guidelines, your dentist will recommend a recall interval for you based on his or her assessment of your current dental health.

You do not have to pay for NHS dental treatment if, when the treatment starts, you are:

• aged under 18
• under 19 and receiving full-time education
• pregnant or a mother who has had a baby in the last 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 also do not have to pay if, when the treatment starts,

• You are included in an award of
• Income Support
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Pension Credit guarantee credit

or

• You are named on a valid NHS tax credit exemption certificate
• You are named on a valid HC2 certificate
• You or your partner receive universal credit

You will not be exempt from paying if you receive Incapacity Benefit, contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance, contribution-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Council Tax Benefit, Housing Benefit or Pension Credit savings credit when paid on their own. Medical conditions do not exempt patients from payment for dental treatment.

You will be asked to show your dentist written proof that you do not have to pay for all or part of your NHS treatment. You will also be asked to sign a form to confirm that you do not have to pay. If your name is on a valid HC3 certificate, you may not have to pay for all your treatment. Checks are made on free and reduced-cost treatment claims. If you say you have the right to free treatment when you do not, you may incur a penalty charge.

You will be able to have all treatment provided under the NHS that your dentist feels is clinically necessary in order to keep your mouth, teeth and gums healthy. If your dentists say that you need a particular type of treatment, you should not be asked to pay for it privately.

NHS Dental Charges for 2023

The charge you pay depends on the treatment you need to keep your mouth, teeth and gums healthy. You will only ever be asked to pay one charge for each complete course of treatment, even if you need to visit your dentist more than once to finish it – either Band 1, Band 2 or Band 3 (see below). If you have to be referred to another dentist for a separate course of treatment, you can expect a second charge. Some minor treatments are free.

This covers an examination, diagnosis (e.g. X-rays), advice on how to prevent future problems, a scale and polish if needed, and application of fluoride varnish or fissure sealant.

Band 2 course of treatment – £70.70

This covers everything listed in Band 1 above, plus any further treatment such as fillings, root canal work or if your dentist needs to take out one or more of your teeth.

Band 3 course of treatment – £306.80

This covers everything listed in Bands 1 and 2 above, plus crowns, dentures and bridges

You should see a dentist regularly for routine check-ups even if you are not experiencing any problem with your mouth or teeth. Attending regularly helps you and your dentist to keep your mouth, teeth and gums in good health and pain-free. Your dentist will tell you how often you need a routine check-up. The clinically recommended maximum intervals are up to 24 months for adults and up to 12 months for children. Within these guidelines, your dentist will recommend a recall interval for you based on his or her assessment of your current dental health.

Not Available on the NHS

The NHS will not provide cosmetic treatments, such as tooth whitening, which you may want to make your teeth more attractive, but are not clinically necessary.

NHS Appointments and failure to attend

Although missed NHS appointments cannot be charged for, we have a very firm policy regarding non-attendance. Patients who fail to attend two NHS dental appointments are unlikely to be offered any further appointments in line with NHS regulations (missed appointments do not have to be consecutive). Your dentist can terminate your treatment if you miss your appointment without letting the dental surgery know. You may then need to pay again for a new course of treatment. While surgeries cannot charge you for not turning up, NHS England has the right to ask you to find another dental surgery if you continue to miss appointments (What happens when you visit an NHS dentist)

Only in exceptional circumstances do the above rules not apply, but this is at the discretion of the treating Dentist, Practice Principle or Head Receptionist. This is to ensure fairness to our patients and staff.

Cancellation or delay of an appointment by the dental practice

We will only cancel or delay a patient’s appointment in unavoidable circumstances. In such cases, we will take the following steps:

• The patient will be contacted as soon as the practice is aware of the need to cancel or delay the appointment. We will explain the reason for the cancellation or delay.
• At the time of contact, the patient will be offered a new appointment at the earliest time available.
• If the patient is unable to commit to a new appointment during that contact, we will ask them to get in touch at a later time, when we will offer them a priority appointment.