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Last updated: July 2026. Written by the Dentists Closeby editorial team. Sources: NHS, NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) and the Welsh Government.
TL;DR Band 2 is the middle tier of NHS dental charges in England and costs £76.60 from April 2026. It covers fillings, root canal treatment, tooth extractions and gum treatment, on top of everything in Band 1. You pay one Band 2 charge per course of treatment, however many teeth are involved.
If you have ever looked at an NHS dental bill and wondered why one appointment costs £27.90 and the next costs £76.60, the answer is the banding system. NHS dental treatment in England is grouped into three fixed price bands, and Band 2 is the middle one, the band that most everyday repair work falls into. This guide sets out exactly which treatments count as Band 2, how Band 2 differs from Band 1 and Band 3, what it costs in 2026, and the rules that decide how much you actually pay.
What is a Band 2 dental treatment?
A Band 2 dental treatment is any NHS course of treatment in England that includes work beyond a basic check-up, such as a filling, root canal treatment or extraction. It is the middle of the three NHS dental charge bands and costs £76.60 from 1 April 2026 [1][3]. Band 2 also covers everything included in Band 1 [2].
The NHS groups all dental treatment in England into three fixed price bands, plus a separate charge for urgent care. The band you are charged depends on the most complex treatment in your course, not on how many appointments you need. NHS.uk sets out the core principle: "You will only ever be asked to pay one charge for each complete course of treatment, even if you need to visit your dentist more than once to finish it" [1].
Band 2 is the band for active repair work. Where Band 1 covers examination and prevention, Band 2 covers the treatments a dentist carries out to fix a problem they have found. That distinction is what puts a filling in Band 2 but a routine scale and polish in Band 1, a point covered in detail further down.
| NHS band (England) | Charge from 1 April 2026 | What it covers in brief |
|---|---|---|
| Band 1 | £27.90 | Examination, diagnosis, X-rays, scale and polish if clinically needed, advice |
| Band 2 | £76.60 | Everything in Band 1, plus fillings, root canal treatment, extractions and gum treatment |
| Band 3 | £332.10 | Everything in Bands 1 and 2, plus crowns, dentures, bridges and other lab-made work |
| Urgent | £27.90 | Emergency care to relieve pain or deal with a dental emergency |
For the full picture of how all three bands and the urgent charge fit together, see our complete NHS dental charges guide.
What does Band 2 cover? The full list
Band 2 covers everything in Band 1, plus a defined set of repair and restorative treatments [2][3]. The NHSBSA describes Band 2 as including "all necessary treatment covered by Band 1" along with "fillings, root-canal treatments or extractions" [3]. NHS.uk expands that to include sealant restorations, denture additions and adjustments, and more extensive gum treatment [2].
Here is the practical list of what falls into Band 2, with the points patients most often get wrong flagged in the notes.
| Treatment | Band 2? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fillings (amalgam or composite) | Yes | Both materials are Band 2 on the NHS. What you pay does not change with the filling material [3] |
| Root canal treatment (endodontics) | Yes | Named directly in the official Band 2 description [3] |
| Tooth extractions | Yes | Routine extractions are Band 2. A genuinely complex case referred to a hospital is handled as hospital care instead (see below) [3] |
| Gum (periodontal) treatment | Yes | Root planing and deep scaling below the gumline are "always Band 2, regardless of the number of visits" [5] |
| Sealant restorations | Yes | A sealant restoration (decay removed, then sealed) is Band 2. A preventive fissure sealant, where no decay is removed, is Band 1 [6] |
| Denture additions and extensive adjustments | Yes | Adding a clasp or tooth, or relining and rebasing an existing denture, is Band 2 [2] |
| Bite-raising appliances (not laboratory-made) | Yes | A laboratory-made appliance moves the course into Band 3 [2] |
One nuance on extractions is worth stating plainly, because it is a common source of confusion. Ordinary extractions carried out at your dental practice are Band 2 [3]. A genuinely complex surgical extraction, for example an awkward impacted wisdom tooth that your dentist cannot safely remove in the chair, may be referred to a hospital oral surgery department, where it is treated as hospital care rather than under the primary-care band charges. No NHS band charge puts extractions into Band 3.
You can see how these Band 2 treatments are priced against private alternatives in our guides to dental filling costs, root canal treatment costs and tooth extraction costs.
Band 1 vs Band 2 vs Band 3: where the line falls
The quickest way to know which band a treatment sits in is to ask what kind of work it is. Band 1 is for looking and cleaning, Band 2 is for repairing, and Band 3 is for replacing or rebuilding with laboratory-made parts. That single distinction resolves most "which band is this?" questions.
| Band | The type of work | Typical treatments |
|---|---|---|
| Band 1 (£27.90) | Examine and prevent | Check-up, diagnosis, X-rays, scale and polish if needed, fluoride varnish, advice |
| Band 2 (£76.60) | Repair | Fillings, root canal treatment, extractions, gum treatment, sealant restorations, denture additions |
| Band 3 (£332.10) | Replace and rebuild | Crowns, bridges, new or replacement dentures, inlays and onlays, orthodontic appliances |
The line between Band 2 and Band 3 is the one people ask about most, because the price jump is large. The test is whether the treatment needs a laboratory-made or custom prosthetic part. A filling is shaped in your mouth in one visit, so it is Band 2. A crown or a set of dentures is made by a dental technician from an impression of your teeth, so it is Band 3. If a technician has to build something to fit you, the course is almost always Band 3.
Is a scale and polish Band 1 or Band 2? The common mix-up
A routine scale and polish is a Band 1 treatment, not Band 2, even when it takes more than one appointment. The NHSBSA is explicit on this in its dedicated guidance: "A scale and polish is a Band 1 treatment, even if more than one visit is required" [4]. So a standard clean at your check-up does not push you into the higher charge.
The confusion arises because a different, more intensive procedure does sit in Band 2. Treatment for gum disease, including root planing, deep scaling below the gumline and cleaning out gum pockets, is a separate clinical procedure from a surface scale and polish. The NHSBSA states that this periodontal treatment "is always Band 2, regardless of the number of visits that the treatment would require" [5].
In short, a clean at the surface of the tooth is Band 1, while treatment that goes below the gumline to manage gum disease is Band 2. If you have been told your gum treatment is Band 2, it is this deeper work being charged, not an ordinary polish. Our guide to gum disease treatment costs explains what that treatment involves.
How much does Band 2 cost, and do you pay per tooth?
Band 2 costs £76.60 in England from 1 April 2026, and you pay it once per course of treatment, not once per tooth [1][3]. If your dentist fills three teeth and takes out a fourth in the same course of treatment, you pay a single £76.60 charge, because all of that work sits within Band 2.
The rule that makes this work is that you always pay for the highest band in your course. NHS.uk explains: "If you need a mix of treatments from the same band, you'll only pay the band charge once", and "if you need a mix of treatments from different bands, you'll pay for the cost of the highest band of treatment you're having" [1].
This has a useful consequence. If a single course of treatment includes both Band 2 work (say two fillings) and a Band 3 item (a crown), you pay only the Band 3 charge of £332.10, and the fillings are not added on top. The Band 2 charge is effectively absorbed into the higher band. Understanding this can help you and your dentist plan treatment so that related work is completed within one course rather than split across several.
Band 2 and the NHS repeat-treatment rules
Two NHS rules can mean you pay nothing for further Band 2 work, and both are easy to miss. They reward completing treatment at the same practice rather than moving around.
The first is the two-month continuation rule. If you return to the same practice within two calendar months of finishing a course of treatment and need more treatment from the same band or a lower one, you do not pay again [7]. So if you had a filling (Band 2) and needed another one six weeks later at the same practice, the second course could be free.
The second is the 12-month guarantee on certain treatments. The NHSBSA guarantees some NHS restorations for 12 months, including "fillings, root fillings, inlays and porcelain veneers, crowns" [8]. If a guaranteed filling or root filling fails or falls out within a year, the same practice should repair or replace it at no charge, provided the conditions are met. This does not apply if you had the original work done privately, or if a different type of restoration was clinically recommended at the time.
Who gets Band 2 treatment for free?
Some patients pay nothing for NHS dental treatment, whatever band they need, because they qualify for full help with NHS health costs. Band 2 is free if you fall into one of the exempt groups [9][10].
The main groups who receive free NHS dental treatment in England are:
- Anyone aged under 18, and under 19 if in full-time education
- Pregnant patients, or anyone who has had a baby in the previous 12 months (you need a valid maternity exemption certificate)
- People receiving certain benefits, including Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Pension Credit Guarantee Credit, and Universal Credit where you meet the earnings threshold
- People named on an NHS Tax Credit Exemption Certificate or a valid HC2 certificate from the NHS Low Income Scheme
If your income is low but you do not receive a qualifying benefit, the NHS Low Income Scheme can still provide full help through an HC2 certificate, or partial help through an HC3 certificate. Because the qualifying list changes from time to time, always check your entitlement on the NHS or NHSBSA website before assuming you must pay. Our free NHS dental treatment eligibility guide walks through each route in full.
Does "Band 2" exist across the whole UK?
Band 2 is an England term, and it no longer describes how the rest of the UK charges for NHS dental care. The three-band system applies in England, but Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each use their own approach, so a treatment that is "Band 2" in England will not be labelled that way elsewhere.
Wales used the same three bands until recently, but abolished them on 1 April 2026. Under the new Welsh contract, treatment is grouped into care packages rather than bands, and patients pay a proportion of the package value up to a maximum charge of £384 per course of treatment [11]. So a Welsh patient having a filling is no longer paying a "Band 2" charge at all.
Scotland has never used the England band system. NHS dental patients in Scotland pay a percentage of their treatment cost, up to a capped maximum, with exemptions for under-26s, pregnant and recently pregnant patients, and people on qualifying benefits [12]. Northern Ireland also uses a percentage-based charge up to a cap rather than fixed bands. Because each nation sets and updates its own charges, it is worth checking your own country's current NHS dental fees directly rather than assuming the England bands apply.
To put the England figures in context, NHS dentistry remains heavily used despite well-documented access pressures. NHSBSA data shows that around 18 million adults, roughly 40% of the adult population in England, were seen by an NHS dentist in the 24 months to 31 March 2025, and that more than 60% of all courses of treatment were charged at Band 1 [13].
How Band 2 fits with private treatment
The band charges only apply to NHS treatment. If you have the same work done privately, the practice sets its own fee, which is usually higher than the fixed NHS charge but varies by clinic and location. A private filling, for example, is priced per tooth and by material, rather than as a single flat course charge.
Whether NHS or private is better value depends on your circumstances, how quickly you need to be seen, and whether you qualify for free NHS treatment. It is worth comparing both before committing to a course of treatment. Our guide to private dentist prices in the UK sets out typical private fees for the same treatments that fall under NHS Band 2.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a filling Band 2 or Band 3?
A filling is a Band 2 NHS treatment in England, costing £76.60 from April 2026. This applies to both amalgam and composite fillings, and the charge does not change with the number of fillings in the same course of treatment. Crowns and other laboratory-made restorations are Band 3, not Band 2.
Is a root canal Band 2 or Band 3?
Root canal treatment is Band 2 on the NHS in England, so it costs £76.60 from April 2026. It is named directly in the official Band 2 description. If your tooth also needs a crown afterwards, the crown is a Band 3 treatment, and where both are done in one course you pay only the higher Band 3 charge.
Is a tooth extraction Band 2?
A routine tooth extraction is a Band 2 NHS treatment in England at £76.60 from April 2026. Multiple extractions in the same course of treatment are still charged once. A very complex surgical extraction may be referred to a hospital, where it is treated as hospital care rather than under the primary-care band charges.
Do I pay Band 2 per tooth or per course of treatment?
You pay the Band 2 charge once per course of treatment, not per tooth. If your dentist fills several teeth and takes one out in the same course, you pay a single £76.60 charge. If the course also includes a Band 3 item such as a crown, you pay only the higher Band 3 charge instead.
What is the difference between Band 2 and Band 3?
Band 2 covers repair work done in the mouth, such as fillings, root canal treatment, extractions and gum treatment, and costs £76.60. Band 3 covers laboratory-made and prosthetic work, such as crowns, bridges and dentures, and costs £332.10. If a dental technician has to build a custom part to fit you, the course is Band 3.
Is a scale and polish Band 1 or Band 2?
A routine scale and polish is a Band 1 treatment at £27.90, even if it takes more than one visit. The Band 2 confusion comes from a different procedure: periodontal treatment for gum disease, including deep scaling below the gumline and root planing, which is always Band 2. A surface clean is Band 1, deeper gum treatment is Band 2.
How much is Band 2 dental treatment in 2026?
Band 2 NHS dental treatment in England costs £76.60 from 1 April 2026, up from £75.30 the previous year. The charge is fixed nationally, so it is the same at every NHS practice in England. It is free for exempt patients, including under-18s, pregnant patients and people on qualifying benefits.
Conclusion
Band 2 is the workhorse of the NHS dental charge system in England: the £76.60 band that covers the fillings, root canal treatment, extractions and gum treatment most patients need at some point. The single most useful thing to remember is that you pay the band charge once per course of treatment, not per tooth, and that a routine scale and polish stays in Band 1 while deeper gum treatment moves to Band 2. If you are exempt, none of it costs you anything.
If you need a filling, an extraction or any other Band 2 treatment and want to compare NHS practices near you, search for a GDC-registered dentist in your area on Dentists Closeby and book an appointment with confidence.
Sources
- How much NHS dental treatment costs -- NHS.uk, accessed 2026-07-03
- What is included in each NHS dental band charge -- NHS.uk, accessed 2026-07-03
- What does each dental treatment band cover in England? -- NHSBSA, accessed 2026-07-03
- What band of treatment is a scale and polish? -- NHSBSA, accessed 2026-07-03
- What band does periodontal treatment fall under? -- NHSBSA, accessed 2026-07-03
- Sealant restoration and fissure sealant banding -- NHSBSA, accessed 2026-07-03
- Do I have to pay for treatment within 2 months of a previous course? -- NHSBSA, accessed 2026-07-03
- Which NHS dental treatments are guaranteed for 12 months? -- NHSBSA, accessed 2026-07-03
- Who can get free NHS dental treatment in England -- NHS.uk, accessed 2026-07-03
- Free NHS dental treatment -- NHSBSA, accessed 2026-07-03
- NHS dental charges and exemptions -- Welsh Government, accessed 2026-07-03
- How much will I pay for NHS dental treatment in Scotland? -- NHSBSA, accessed 2026-07-03
- Dental statistics England 2024/25 -- NHSBSA, accessed 2026-07-03
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