NHS dental charges from April 2016
NHS patient dental charges in England will increase by 5% on 1 April 2016.
Regulations have today been laid before Parliament to in England from 1 April 2016.
In the 2015 Spending Review, the government committed to support the with 拢10 billion investment in real terms by 2020 to 2021 to fund frontline NHS services. Alongside this, the government expects the NHS to deliver 拢22 billion of efficiency savings because we must make the best use of NHS resources.
We have taken the decision to uplift dental charges for those who can afford it, through a 5% increase this year and next.
This means that the dental charge payable for a band 1 course of treatment will rise by 90 pence in 2016 to 2017, from 拢18.80 to 拢19.70, and by 90 pence in 2017 to 2018, from 拢19.70 to 拢20.60.
The dental charge for a band 2 course of treatment will increase by 拢2.60 in 2016 to 2017, from 拢51.30 to 拢53.90, and by 拢2.40 in 2017 to 2018, from 拢53.90 to 拢56.30.
The charge for a band 3 course of treatment will increase by 拢11.20 in 2016 to 2017, from 拢222.50 to 拢233.70, and by 拢10.60 in 2017 to 2018, from 拢233.70 to 拢244.30.
Dental charges remain an important contribution to the overall cost of dental services, first introduced in 1951, but we will keep protecting the most vulnerable within society. NHS dental treatment will remain free for those under the age of 18, those under the age of 19 and receiving full-time education, pregnant women or those who have had a baby in the previous 12 months, and those on qualifying low income benefits. If someone does not qualify for these exemptions, full or partial help may be available through the .