The Government has announced prices for dental care in England will rise by 4% from 1 April.
A dental charge for a band one course of treatment, which includes a basic check-up and diagnosis, will go up by £1 to £26.80. This is also the same price if you require urgent assessment or pain relief.
Further NHS treatment for fillings or root canals will cost £73.50 – a £2.80 increase.
But if you need a crown fitted, bridges inserted or any treatment from the band three section, there will be a rise of £12.30 to £319.10.
The Department of Health and Social Care explained in a statement that the “proportionate” rise was due to “the cost of delivering NHS dental care continuing to increase.”
The revised charges for the 2024/25 tax year are as follows:
- Band one – £26.80: This band includes examination, diagnosis (including radiographs), advice on how to prevent future problems, scale and polish if clinically needed, and preventative care (e.g. applications of fluoride varnish or fissure sealant).
- Band two – £73.50: Covers everything listed in band one, plus any further treatment such as fillings, root canal work or extractions.
- Band three – £319.10: This band covers everything in bands one and two, plus the course of treatment including crowns, dentures, bridges and other laboratory work.
- Urgent – £26.80: This band covers urgent assessment and specified urgent treatments such as pain relief or a temporary filling or dental appliance repair.
Exemptions for dental care price hikes
It added that those in need of NHS dental care will receive support if they require it.
You are entitled to that support if you are:
- Aged under 18, or under 19 and in full-time education
- Pregnant, or had a baby in the last 12 months
- Being treated in an NHS hospital
- Receive low-income benefits, or aged under 20 and a dependant of someone receiving low-income benefits.
The Government also confirmed support is available through the NHS Low Income Scheme for those patients who are not eligible for exemption or full remission.
Last year, the price of dental care rose by what the Government described as a “higher-than-usual” uplift of 8.5% but, due to the 4% rise, “in real terms it is an increase of 2% since April 2023”.
