NHS treatments

nhs scotland

NHS dentistry is based on clinical need and is available to all patients

  • Oral health examination and diagnosis FREE* to everyone
  • Enhanced preventative advice and treatment (Scale & polish)
 £ 17.32
  • One small X-ray
 £  6.08
  • Small amalgam (silver) filing
 £ 14.00
  • Simple extraction (one tooth)
 £ 31.80
  • Root canal treatment (front tooth)
 £104.68 (from)
  • Single crown (front tooth)
 £164.52 (from)
  • Complete (upper and lower) dentures
 £379.60

You pay 80 per cent of the cost of the treatment up to a maximum of £384 if you can’t get free treatment or help with the cost. The above are only examples of what you might pay for courses of treatment that start on or after 1 November 2025. For all NHS treatment charges, consult the Statement of Dental Remuneration (SDR) on the Scottish Dental website: https://www.scottishdental.nhs.scot (Charges are updated from time to time).

The total cost of NHS treatment may be different from these examples.  You may ask your dentist for a treatment plan. This is provided free of charge and explains what treatment your dentist recommends and includes the price for each part of the treatment, and the likely total cost.

* To people who are ordinarily resident in the UK or who belong in one of the categories for exemption from NHS charges set out in the NHS (Charges to Overseas Visitors) (Scotland) Regulations 1989.

You can get FREE NHS dental treatment if, when the treatment starts, you are:
  • Aged under 26

  • Pregnant or a woman who has given birth within the last 12 months

  • Receiving certain benefits and meet specific income requirements
 
Or, if when the treatment starts or when the charge is made:
    • you are included in an award of:
      • Income Support
      • Universal Credit

        • And had no earnings or net earnings (take-home pay) of £435 or less during
          the most recent assessment period,* or

        • Which includes an element for a child and/or limited capability for work or limited capability for work related activity, and had no earning or net earnings (take-home pay) of £935 or less during the most recent assessment period.*
      • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
      • Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
      • Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
      • NHS Tax Credit Exemption Certificate
      * Your assessment period will run for a calendar month from the date of your claim for Universal Credit (which will be shown on your award notice) and between the same dates each month after that

 Around 40% of patients are exempt from paying a contribution towards the cost of their NHS dental care.

  • you are named on a valid HC2 certificate issued under the terms of the NHS Low Income Scheme

If none of the circumstances already mentioned applies to you, but you have difficulty paying NHS charges, you may qualify for help under the NHS Low Income Scheme. The threshold for full help under the scheme changes from time to time.

Partial help:
  • If you are named on a valid HC3 certificate you may get limited help with the cost of your NHS dental treatment because of low income. The certificate specifies how much you must pay towards NHS dental treatment.

 

To claim your entitlement, tell your dentist when you have your treatment that you do not think you have to pay or that you have to pay only so much. Your dentist will ask for evidence and ask you to sign the appropriate form.

For full information on NHS dental treatment which you are entitled to, please consult the
NHS inform website:
https://www.NHSinform.scot/dentist

Ask at reception should you have difficulty in accessing information.