NHS Dental Fees in Scotland 2026
Here’s something a lot of people don’t know. If you live in Scotland and you’re registered with an NHS dentist, your dental treatment is free. All of it. No bands, no percentages, no cap to navigate.
OVERVIEW
NHS dental examinations are free for all registered patients in Scotland. In 2026, NHS patient charges are set at 80% of treatment cost, capped at a maximum of £384 per course of treatment. Patients who are under 26, pregnant, have given birth in the last 12 months, hold an HC2 certificate, or receive qualifying benefits pay nothing at all. Citrus Dental Care at 1 Meadow Place, Edinburgh EH9 1JZ is contracted through NHS Lothian and is currently accepting new NHS patients. Call 0131 285 3308 to register.
Address: 1 Meadow Place, Edinburgh EH9 1JZ
Phone: 0131 285 3308
NHS provider: NHS Lothian
Currently accepting: New NHS patients
NHS Dental Treatment in Scotland Is Free
NHS dental examinations are free for every registered patient in Scotland. If you fall into one of the exempt groups below, all your NHS treatment is free. Everyone else pays 80% of the treatment cost, capped at a maximum of £384 per course of treatment, so you’ll never be charged more than that no matter how much work is needed in one go.
For the full official detail, you can read more at NHS Inform Scotland.
What NHS Dental Treatment Covers in Scotland
2026 NHS Patient Charge Table
These are the actual patient charges set by NHS Scotland for 2026. Examinations are always free. If you’re in an exempt group, all treatment is free. Everyone else pays the charges below, capped at £384 per course.
| Treatment | Patient Charge |
|---|---|
| Check-up and prevention | Â |
| Check-up (examination) | Free |
| Check-up with preventive advice and scale and polish (where clinically necessary) | £17.32 |
| X-rays | Â |
| Two small X-rays | £12.16 |
| One large X-ray of teeth and jaws (OPG) | £14.92 |
| Gum disease treatment | Â |
| Course of oral hygiene and deep gum cleaning (1 to 4 appointments) | £35.52 to £142.08 |
| Fillings | Â |
| Small white filling (front tooth) | £23.36 |
| Small metal filling (back tooth) | £14.00 |
| Large metal filling (back tooth) | £29.92 |
| Root canal treatment | Â |
| Root canal treatment | £104.68 to £169.20 |
| Additional fee for re-root canal treatment | £48.60 |
| Crowns | Â |
| Single crown | £164.52 to £204.76 |
| Extractions | Â |
| Simple extraction (per tooth) | £31.80 |
| Surgical or complex extraction (per tooth) | £60.76 to £83.20 |
| Dentures | Â |
| Complete upper and lower set of dentures | £379.60 |
Patient charges are 80% of the treatment cost, set by NHS Scotland for 2026. The maximum charge per course of treatment is £384, regardless of how much work is carried out.
Source: NHS Inform Scotland.
How NHS Charges Work in Scotland
Scotland’s NHS dental system works differently to England, and it’s worth understanding before your appointment so there are no surprises on the day.
The first thing to know is that your check-up is always free. Every registered NHS patient in Scotland is entitled to a free examination, no matter what.
For treatment beyond the check-up, most patients pay 80% of the treatment cost. That 80% is capped at a maximum of £384 per course of treatment. A course of treatment covers all the work carried out during a connected period of care, so no matter how much treatment you need in one go, you’ll never pay more than £384 for it.
Around 40% of patients receive free NHS dental care in Scotland. If you fall into one of the exempt groups below, you pay nothing at all.
If you’re not sure what you’ll be charged before you come in, just call us on 0131 285 3308 and we’ll talk it through.
Why Scotland Is Different to England
If you’ve searched online for NHS dental charges and found information about Band 1, Band 2, and Band 3, that applies to England only. Scotland uses its own fee structure, with charges set as a percentage of treatment cost rather than a flat band rate.
In England, patients pay fixed charges regardless of how simple or complex the treatment is. In Scotland, the charge reflects the actual cost of what’s been done, with the 80% rule and the £384 cap providing a clear ceiling. For patients needing more complex or multiple treatments in one course, the Scottish system is typically more financially predictable.
What NHS Doesn’t Cover
NHS dentistry in Scotland covers everything that’s clinically necessary to keep your teeth healthy. What it doesn’t cover is treatment that’s primarily cosmetic or elective.
Invisalign, teeth whitening, composite bonding, dental implants, and facial aesthetics are private treatments and aren’t available on the NHS regardless of which part of the UK you live in.
Many patients at Citrus have both. They’re registered with us as NHS patients for their routine care and choose private treatment when they want something the NHS doesn’t provide. There’s no pressure either way, and we’ll always be clear about which is which and what it costs before anything is agreed.
Who Pays Nothing
Free NHS Dental Treatment, Who Qualifies?
You’re entitled to completely free NHS dental treatment in Scotland if you fall into any of the following groups.
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1Under 26Every piece of NHS dental treatment — check-ups, fillings, extractions, root canals, and hygiene appointments — is completely free for anyone under the age of 26. This is one of the most generous aspects of the Scottish NHS dental system and one that a lot of young people simply don't know about.
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2Pregnant patientsIf you're currently pregnant, all NHS dental treatment is free for the duration of your pregnancy.
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3Recent mothersIf you've given birth in the last 12 months, you're entitled to free NHS dental treatment during that period.
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4HC2 certificate holdersIf you hold a valid HC2 certificate issued through the NHS Low Income Scheme, all NHS dental treatment is free.
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5Qualifying benefit recipientsIf you or your partner receive Universal Credit, Income Support, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, or the Pension Credit guarantee element, your NHS dental treatment is free.
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6Not sure if you qualify?If you're not sure whether you qualify, call us on 0131 285 3308 and we'll help you work it out before you come in.
No sure where to begin? Just give us a ring.
NHS Treatment or Private? Here's the Honest Difference.
NHS dentistry covers everything that’s clinically necessary to keep your teeth healthy, check-ups, fillings, extractions, root canal treatment, and dentures. It’s available at a fair, capped cost, and for many patients it’s everything they need.
What NHS dentistry doesn’t cover is treatment that’s primarily cosmetic or elective. Invisalign, teeth whitening, composite bonding, dental implants, and facial aesthetics are private treatments and aren’t available on the NHS.
Many of our patients at Citrus have both. They’re registered with us as NHS patients for their routine care and choose private treatment when they want something the NHS doesn’t provide. There’s no pressure either way and we’ll always be clear about which is which and what it costs before anything is agreed.
If you’d like to understand your options before registering, give us a call on 0131 285 3308. We’re happy to talk it through.
REGISTRATION
Register With Citrus Dental Care
New to the area, returning after a while away, or just finally getting round to that appointment you’ve been putting off. You’re welcome here and registering is straightforward.
Here’s what you get when you join us:
- Free NHS check-ups for all registered patients
- Same-day emergency appointments when you need them
- A friendly, consistent team who gets to know you
- Membership plans from £22.50 a month
- 0% finance on private treatment through Tabeo
- Gentle, unhurried care at whatever pace suits you
NHS patients are very welcome. We’re currently accepting new NHS registrations alongside private patients, which we know isn’t something every Edinburgh practice can say right now.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions About NHS Fees
Yes. Dental examinations are free for all registered NHS patients in Scotland. You only pay for treatment beyond the examination itself.
Most patients pay 80% of the treatment cost, capped at a maximum of £384 per course of treatment. So even if you need several treatments in one go, you'll never pay more than £384. Exempt patients, including those under 26 and pregnant patients, pay nothing at all.
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Yes. All NHS dental treatment is completely free for anyone under 26 in Scotland. Check-ups, fillings, root canal, extractions, hygiene — all of it. There's no charge at all.
A course of treatment covers all the dental work that's clinically connected and carried out during a related period of care. The £384 cap applies to the whole course, not per appointment, so if you need several treatments in one go you'll still pay no more than £384 in total.
No. Scotland doesn't use the English band charge system. Scottish NHS patients pay 80% of the treatment cost up to £384 per course, or nothing at all if they're in an exempt group. The Band 1, Band 2, and Band 3 system doesn't apply here.
Yes. A gap in dental attendance doesn't affect your entitlement to NHS treatment. Come in, we'll assess where things stand, and put a plan together from there.
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Call us on 0131 285 3308, fill in the registration form on our website, or pop into Meadow Place and we'll get you sorted. It takes a few minutes and there's no charge to register.
