Who can get free NHS dental treatment?

For people in England who want to know if they pay for NHS dental care.

Applies to: England, Scotland, Wales Last checked against official sources: 6 October 2026

In England, NHS dental treatment is free if you are under 18, under 19 and in full-time education, or pregnant or had a baby in the last 12 months.

It is also free if you or your partner get income-related ESA, Pension Credit Guarantee Credit or qualifying Universal Credit.
On Universal Credit, your take-home pay must usually be £435 or less in your last assessment period, or £935 if your award includes a child or limited capability for work.
If you pay, a Band 1 check-up costs £27.90 in 2026/27.
On a low income, you may get full or part help through the NHS Low Income Scheme.

Different in Wales and Scotland

Wales: check-ups are free if you are under 25 or 60 or over.
Scotland: NHS dental check-ups are free for anyone ordinarily resident in the UK.

Different in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

Rules may be different in:

Northern Ireland: Check nidirect for Northern Ireland

Key facts

Free under 18 (19 in education)
Free in pregnancy and 12 months after
UC: take-home £435 or less
Band 1 costs £27.90 in England

Who gets free NHS dental treatment in England

You do not pay NHS dental charges if, when your treatment starts, you:

are under 18, or under 19 and in full-time education
are pregnant, or have had a baby or a stillbirth in the last 12 months
are being treated in an NHS hospital by a hospital dentist (you may still pay for dentures or bridges)
get War Pension Scheme or Armed Forces Compensation Scheme payments and the treatment is for your accepted disability
or your partner get income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Pension Credit Guarantee Credit, or Universal Credit within the earnings limits below (your dependants under 20 also get free treatment)
are named on an HC2 certificate from the NHS Low Income Scheme

Being 60 or over is not on this list. In England, age alone does not give free dental treatment, although it does give free prescriptions and eye tests.

Universal Credit earnings limits

Your Universal Credit award	Take-home pay in your last assessment period
No child element and no limited capability for work	£435 or less
Includes a child element or limited capability for work	£935 or less

For couples, these limits are for your combined earnings.

What you pay if you do not qualify (England, 2026/27)

Band	Cost	What it covers
Band 1	£27.90	Check-up, X-rays, scaling, advice
Band 2	£76.60	Band 1 plus fillings, root canal work, taking out teeth
Band 3	£332.10	Band 1 and 2 plus crowns, dentures, bridges
Urgent	£27.90	Emergency care, such as a temporary filling or draining an abscess

If you need treatment from more than one band, you pay only the highest band. These charges went up in 2026, from £27.40, £75.30 and £326.70.

Worked examples

Example 1. Priya is on Universal Credit with no children. Her take-home pay last month was £400. That is under £435, so her filling is free.

Example 2. Tom wrongly ticks the box to say he gets free treatment for a Band 2 course. Five times £76.60 is £383, but the penalty is capped at £100. He must pay the £76.60 charge plus a £100 penalty, so £176.60.

Help if you are on a low income

If you do not qualify, apply to the NHS Low Income Scheme using form HC1. You may get an HC2 certificate (full help) or an HC3 certificate (part help). You usually cannot get help if you have savings over £16,000 (£23,250 if you live in a care home).

If you paid but think you should not have, claim a refund on form HC5(D) within 3 months. You need a receipt.

If you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

Wales: check-ups are free if you are under 25 or 60 or over. Wales has its own charges, with a maximum of £384 for one course of treatment.
Scotland: NHS dental check-ups are free for anyone ordinarily resident in the UK.
Northern Ireland: free treatment groups are similar, including Pension Credit Guarantee Credit and Universal Credit with earnings under £435 (or £935 if claiming for children).

Related guides

Where these figures come from

NHS: Who is entitled to free NHS dental treatment in England
NHS: How much NHS dental treatment costs
Legislation: NHS (Primary Dental Services and Dental Charges) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
NHSBSA: Help with health costs (HC11), April 2026
Welsh Government: NHS dental charges and exemptions
Scottish Government: Help with health costs quick guide
nidirect: Help with health costs

Get it done

This takes you to the official service, which is free to use.

Find out about NHS dentists

Common questions

Is dental treatment free if I am over 60?

Not in England on age alone. Age 60 is not on the list of groups who get free NHS dental treatment.

Can I get free dental treatment on Universal Credit?

Yes, if your take-home pay was £435 or less in your last assessment period, or £935 or less if your award includes a child or limited capability for work.

What happens if I wrongly claim free treatment?

You may have to pay the charge plus a penalty of five times the charge, up to £100.

Official sources

1.Who is entitled to free NHS dental treatment in Englandwww.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/who-is-entitled-to-free-nhs-dental-treatment-in-england/
2.NHSBSA: Help with health costs (HC11), April 2026www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/2026-04/HC11%20%28V28%29%2004.2026.pdf
3.NHS dental charges and exemptions (Wales)www.gov.wales/nhs-dental-charges-and-exemptions
4.Scottish Government: Help with health costs quick guidewww.gov.scot/publications/quick-guide-help-health-costs-6/
5.How much NHS dental treatment costswww.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/how-much-nhs-dental-treatment-costs/

Checked against GOV.UK on 6 October 2026

Information from the NHS website is licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

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