The charge you pay depends on the treatment you need. You will only ever be asked to pay one charge for each completed course of treatment, even if you need to visit us more than once to finish it - either Band 1, Band 2 or Band 3. Normally you will be asked to pay for your NHS treatment on the day of your appointment. We do not accept cheques.
If you are not exempt from charges, you should pay one of the following charges for each course of treatment you receive. The fees are set by the NHS, and are the same at all dental practices in England.
Emergency dental treatment - £27.90
This covers emergency care such as pain relief or a temporary filling.
Band 1 course of treatment - £27.90
This covers examinations, diagnosis (including radiographs), advice on how to prevent future problems, scale and polish if clinically necessary, and preventative care (for example, applications of fluoride varnish or fissure sealant).
Band 2 course of treatment - £76.60
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 - £332.10
This covers everything listed in Bands 1 and 2 above, plus crowns, dentures, bridges and other laboratory work.
All children under 18 are entitled to free NHS treatment.
We recommend that a childs first visit should be when the first tooth erupts in the mouth, no later than age one or two.
For advice on looking after your childrens teeth see our page on toothbrushing.
You do not have to pay for your NHS dental treatment if, when treatment starts or when you are asked to pay, you are:
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aged under 18, or under 19 and in qualifying full-time education
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pregnant or have had a baby in the previous 12 months
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staying in an NHS hospital and your treatment is carried out by the hospital dentist
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an NHS hospital dental service outpatient – but you may have to pay for your dentures or bridges
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You're also entitled if you or your partner – including civil partner – receive, or you're under the age of 20 and the dependant of someone receiving:
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Income Support
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Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
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Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
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Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
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Universal Credit and meet the criteria
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If you're entitled to or named on:
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a valid NHS tax credit exemption certificate – if you do not have a certificate, you can show your award notice; you qualify if you get Child Tax Credits, Working Tax Credits with a disability element (or both), and have an income for tax credit purposes of £15,276 or less
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a valid HC2 certificate
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People named on an NHS certificate for partial help with health costs (HC3) may also get help.
You will not be exempt from paying because you receive any of the following:
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Incapacity Benefit
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contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance
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contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance
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Disability Living Allowance
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Council Tax Benefit
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Housing Benefit
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Pension Credit Savings Credit
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Medical conditions do not exempt patients from payment for dental treatment. You'll 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.
To find out more about NHS dental costs click here.
Proof of your entitlement
You'll be asked to show your dentist written proof that you're entitled to help with dental treatment costs. This will vary depending on your circumstances.
If no evidence is seen, we have to inform the NHS. Any incorrect or false information could lead to a penalty charge.
It is your responsibility to understand the exemption rules and complete and sign the form accordingly. The practice will not be liable for any charges you may incur as a result of an incorrect exemption claim.
For every NHS course of treatment you will be asked to fill out a NHS form. It is called an FP17PR, an example of which can be found here.
As an NHS patient you can still choose private options.
For example, you can have an NHS course of treatment but choose a cosmetic all ceramic crown. If you do choose a private option, don't worry- you will still remain an NHS patient. Your dentist will provide you with a written estimate clearly detailing the costs.
Missed & Cancelled Appointments
We understand that sometimes you may be unable to attend an appointment.
However, missed appointments and late cancellations waste valuable clinical time and resources that could otherwise be offered to other patients.
Our practice policy is that if, on more than one occasion, you cancel with less than 24 hours’ notice or fail to attend an appointment, we may no longer be able to offer you NHS treatment.
We may still be able to offer private dental care, although a non-refundable deposit may be required before future appointments are booked.
In addition, we may be unable to continue providing treatment if you:
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Fail to attend your initial appointment as a new patient
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Fail to attend an appointment lasting 45 minutes or longer
Children & Missed Appointments
When a child does not attend an appointment, this is recorded as a “Was Not Brought” (WNB), as it is the responsibility of the parent or guardian to ensure that the child attends.
We will contact the parent or guardian to arrange another appointment. If a child has multiple missed or cancelled appointments, we may need to raise concerns with other healthcare professionals, the GP, local children's services or other appropriate agencies where necessary to safeguard the child's wellbeing.
Respect for Our Team & Patients
We are committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for our patients and team.
Violent, threatening, abusive or discriminatory behaviour towards our staff, patients or anyone else on the practice premises will not be tolerated. In such circumstances, treatment may be refused and, where appropriate, the incident may be reported to the relevant authorities.
NHS Patients
In England, patients do not formally “register” with an NHS dentist in the same way that they register with a GP.
An NHS dentist can provide treatment to patients who are accepted for NHS care, regardless of where they live, provided the practice is accepting NHS patients. The relationship with an NHS dental practice is generally linked to the course of treatment being provided, rather than permanent registration.
At The Dental Tree, we consider you to be a patient of the practice if you have attended within the last two years (not including emergency appointments).
However, this does not guarantee ongoing access to NHS appointments, and NHS treatment remains subject to the availability and terms of the NHS dental service.