If you are not exempt from dental charges, you normally will need to pay the appropriate charge for each course of NHS treatment depending on which band the treatment falls under.
However, in some circumstances you may not need to pay again for NHS dental treatment, or you may not need to pay as much.
Continuation of treatment within 2 months
A course of NHS dental treatment can be “continued” with no further charge if you need any further treatment within 2 months, but only if the treatment you need is in the same band or lower.
Treatment in the same band or lower
If you paid for a routine checkup and a scale (band 1), and then for some reason booked another routine checkup within 2 months, and its found in your second checkup that you don’t need any treatment that would fall in band 2 or 3, then your initial band 1 course of treatment can be continued with no further charge.
Similarly if you paid for checkup and a filling (band 2), and then you needed another filling within 2 months, you wouldn’t have to pay again because your initial band 2 course of treatment can be continued.
Treatment in a higher band
If you paid for a band 2 course of treatment and then needed a crown a month later, unfortunately you could not continue the initial course of treatment because the crown would fall under a higher band. Instead you would incur the full band 3 charge for your crown.
Similarly if you paid for a band 1 course of treatment but then needed a filling a month later, you would incur the full cost of the band 2 course of treatment for the filling since it falls under a higher band.
Emergency and urgent appointments
If you book an emergency or urgent appointment for something unrelated to your previous course of treatment then you may have to pay separately for an urgent course of treatment.
Expired exemptions from NHS dental charges
If you were exempt from NHS dental charges for an initial course of dental treatment and then your exemption expired, you would need to pay for any further dental treatment you need even if it is within 2 months from your initial course of treatment.
Treatment under guarantee for 12 months
Most NHS dental treatment comes with a 12 month guarantee. If there is a problem with a new filling within the first 12 months, and your when your dentist checks it they find that its appropriate to fix the problem with the same treatment again, then your dentist can provide this treatment “under guarantee” – free of charge. The same applies for inlays, onlays, veneers and crowns, but not bridges and dentures.
If you also need a checkup or any other treatment, then you would still need to pay for this.
If your dentist finds that its not appropriate to fix the problem with same treatment, for example if the tooth needed crown instead of a filling this time, then you would need to pay for the alternative treatment.
Reduced charge for replacing lost dentures and bridges
If you loose an NHS denture or bridge and need a replacement then you wont normally need to pay the full price for the replacement denture. If you return to the dentist that made your denture or bridge, they can normally replace a lost NHS denture or bridge for just one third of the normal NHS band 3 charge.
Charges for exempt patients to replace lost dentures and bridges
If you are normally exempt from NHS dental charges and you loose your denture or bridge, then your dentist will unfortunately have to charge you to replace your lost denture or bridge. The amount you have to pay is one third of the normal NHS band 3 charge.
If you are normally exempt from NHS dental charges and attend a new NHS dental practice in need of a denture or bridge, then your new dentist will usually be able to provide you with a new NHS denture or bridge free of charge.
You might also be interested in some of our popular dental guides and FAQ:
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- How to register with an NHS dentist
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- Tooth decay – how to prevent and treat tooth decay at home
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- Wisdom teeth – pain, problems, extractions and crowding
- Which drinks are tooth-kind? and which are tooth-cruel?
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