This section contains information on:
How to find NHS dental care
There’s a new way to register your interest for a place at an NHS dentist. The Dental Access Portal will provide a central platform for Health Boards to allocate places for routine dental treatment at NHS dental practices across Wales.
If you need urgent dental care, contact your local NHS dental helpline.
If you are already a patient at a dental practice, you should aim to go for regular check-ups so that you maintain good oral health.
How often should I have a routine check-up with a dentist?
The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has published guidelines to help dentist decide on how often people need a routine check-up. If you have been used to regular check-ups every 6 months, you may be advised that you should come more or less often. The time between routine check-ups can be longer or shorter depending on how healthy your teeth and gums are. Your dentist will discuss this with you and decide on the length of time needed until your next check-up.
Available NHS dental services and costs
Your dentist will agree with you whether your treatment will be via the NHS, or private, or a mixture of both. If you are not sure at any time, do not hesitate to ask.
As an NHS dental patient, you are entitled to:
- A written estimate and treatment plan that details NHS treatment and any private treatment you have agreed
- A practice information leaflet
- All treatment necessary to secure and maintain oral health
- Advice and where necessary, treatment in an emergency
- A national set of charges
- A maximum charge per course of treatment
- Free or reduced cost treatment for some groups of patients
- For some people, an examination and sometimes care provided at their home
- Access to a formal complaints procedure
- Private treatment as an alternative to, or in addition to, NHS treatment.
You can get free NHS dental treatment if when the treatment starts you are:
- under 18
- 18 and in full time education
- pregnant or have had a baby within the 12 month before treatment starts
- an NHS in-patient and the treatment is carried out by the hospital dentist
- an NHS Hospital Dental Service out-patient*
*There may be a charge for dentures and bridges.
Or, when the treatment starts or when the charge is made:
Partial Help: If you are named on a HC3W certificate you might get some help towards the cost of your NHS dental treatment. Read Low income scheme: help with NHS health costs | GOV.WALES
Free NHS Dental Examination
You get free dental examinations if you are:
- Aged under 25 on the day you are examined
- Aged 60 or over on the day you are examined
Any subsequent treatment as a result of the free examination carries the appropriate charge.
Charges for NHS Dentistry
Free NHS Dental Examination
You get free dental examinations if you are:
- Aged under 25 on the day you are examined in Wales; or
- Aged 60 or over on the day you are examined in Wales.
- Any subsequent treatment as a result of the free examination carries the appropriate charge.
- If you are exempt from NHS dental charges, you will receive free treatment and care.
- If you pay for NHS dental treatment, there are three categories of charges. You pay one charge even if you visit more than once to complete a course of treatment. The amount you pay will depend on the treatment you need.
If you need NHS dental treatment, the amount you pay depends on the type of care.
You should ask your dentist how much your individual treatment plan will cost. The dental practice may ask you to pay before beginning your treatment. You will normally pay 1 charge per course of treatment, or care package. Even if treatment takes place over more than 1 appointment.
There is a maximum total charge of £384 for a course of treatment (or multiple courses delivered at the same time).
Your dentist should display a poster about NHS charges in the waiting room.
Important information
- you will usually pay 1 charge per course of treatment
- some care packages exclude laboratory charges, which may be payable separately
- you may not have to pay if you are exempt from NHS dental charges
Urgent dental care
Urgent care package: £37.50
Urgent dental care includes an oral health assessment and treatment to relieve pain or prevent significant worsening of the presenting issue.
Where appropriate, urgent care should provide a long-term solution and may include permanent treatment, such as restorations, with your consent. You may be referred onwards if further care is needed.
New patient assessment
New patient assessment: £27.21
A new patient assessment includes a full clinical and global health assessment, including soft tissue examination and X-rays where appropriate.
It also includes preventative care such as:
- oral hygiene and diet advice
- support to reduce risk factors such as smoking, alcohol and sugar intake
- topical fluoride application
- prescription of high strength fluoride toothpaste
- fissure sealants for enamel caries where clinically appropriate
Recall appointments
Recall: £25.00 per visit
Recall examinations must follow NICE guidance and be based on your individual level of risk.
Your dentist must record your recall interval and monitor your oral health to ensure you remain on the most appropriate recall pathway.
Care packages
Care packages group together related treatments and are based on your clinical need. The types of care packages, what they include, and the associated charges are set out below:
Simple restorative care package: £36.03
Includes fillings, temporary crowns, Hall crowns and extractions for up to a total of 4 teeth.
Extensive restorative care package: £68.75
Includes the same treatments as the simple restorative package for between 5 and 8 teeth.
Periodontal care package: £48.53
For patients with gum disease who can engage with treatment. This includes tailored oral hygiene instruction and plaque removal
Denture care package: £86.40
Includes upper and lower dentures.
Laboratory charges are not included and must be paid separately unless you are exempt from NHS dental charges.
Stabilisation care package: £75.00
For patients with extensive tooth decay (7 or more affected teeth).
Includes extractions, preventative care, restorations, and support for gum disease
Anterior root canal care package: £91.18
Root canal treatment for up to two front teeth (teeth 1 to 3)
Posterior root canal care package: £182.72
Root canal treatment for up to two premolar or back teeth.
Laboratory charges are not included and must be paid separately unless you are exempt.
Crown, bridge, inlay, onlay and veneer care package: £140.44
Includes:
- up to 2 crowns
- up to a 3 unit bridge
- a single crown and a single cantilever bridge provided together
Temporary restorations and laboratory charges are not included and must be paid separately unless you are exempt.
Miscellaneous care package: £25.00
For treatments that fall outside other care packages or outside the guarantee period. This may include:
- denture repair, addition or reline
- denture adjustment
- study models
- bite-raising appliances
- biopsy
- repair or re-cementing of crowns, bridges or veneers
- removal of sutures
- treatment of infections
- urgent orthodontic issues
- management of bleeding or dry socket
Laboratory charges are not included and must be paid separately unless you are exempt.
Dental emergencies
What is a dental emergency?
The following conditions are classed as emergencies, and you are advised to attend A&E if you have:
- swelling which is affecting your ability to breathe, swallow, or open your mouth fully
- swelling which is close to your eye
- bleeding from the mouth which cannot be stopped and you take blood thinners
- serious cuts to the mouth or lips
- suspected broken/dislocated jaw or broken bones in the face
Adult teeth that have been knocked out should be attempted to be reimplanted as soon as possible. Please follow the instructions on this page or call 111. Do not attempt to reimplant a baby tooth which has been knocked out.
Toothache, no matter how bad, is not a dental emergency.
For advice and treatment on urgent dental problems that are not emergencies, but still require attention, contact your dental practice or phone 111.
Dental treatment for people with additional needs
Community Dental Services (CDS) provide treatment for people who may not otherwise seek or receive dental care, due to having additional needs. This may include people with learning disabilities, housebound people, people with mental or physical health problems or other disabling conditions.
Adults and children who meet the CDS local criteria to receive care must be referred by their own dentist or alternative healthcare professional, such as their GP or health visitor.
Complaints about dental treatment
NHS Wales operates an independent process for raising concerns and complaints called ‘Putting Things Right’. More information on the ‘Putting Things Right’ process can be found here.
If you wish to complain about any aspect of the services provided by your dental practice, you should raise these concerns directly with your dental practice, or via the practice manager, within 12 months of the incident or problem occurring. If you do not want to deal with the practice directly, you can contact the Concerns Team at your local Health Board.
If you are not satisfied with the response to your complaint, you can address your complaint directly to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales. The Ombudsman is independent of all government bodies and the service provided is impartial and free of charge. You can find out more about the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales by viewing the website of The Public Service Ombudsman for Wales.
How do I complain about a private dentist?
The Dental Complaints Service assist private dental patients and dentists resolve complaints about private dental services. To seek their help with a dental complaint, telephone 020 8253 0800 (Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm) or complete a form via their website www.dentalcomplaints.org.uk.
Am I entitled to see my dental records?
NHS and private patients have a right to copies of their dental records. To obtain copies make a written request to the dental practice. You may be required to pay a fee for obtaining your records (up to £50 for manually held records and up to £10 for computer held records). This is to cover administration costs. The dental practice must supply copies of the requested record within 40 days.