What Does Band 2 NHS Dental Treatment Cover?
Band 2 (£75.30) covers fillings, root canals and extractions in England. Here's exactly what's included and what tips you into Band 3.
NearbyDentist Editorial
Independent UK dental-access guide
What does Band 2 NHS dental treatment cover and how much does it cost?
Band 2 is the middle NHS dental charge in England and costs £75.30 in 2026. It covers everything in Band 1 (examination, diagnosis, X-rays, scale and polish, advice) plus more involved clinical work: fillings, root canal treatment, and tooth extractions. Importantly, you pay the single Band 2 charge of £75.30 no matter how many fillings or extractions you need in that one course of treatment — so three fillings still cost £75.30, not three times that. The band covers the treatment your dentist says is clinically necessary, not cosmetic upgrades. If your course later needs crowns, dentures or bridges it moves up to Band 3 (£326.70). Band 2 is free if you are under 18, under 19 in full-time education, pregnant or a new mother within 12 months, or receiving qualifying low-income benefits. These charges apply in England; Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland set their own rates.
The three NHS dental bands explained
NHS dental treatment in England is grouped into three flat-rate bands, so you know the cost before you start. Band 2 sits in the middle, at £75.30 for 2026. You pay one charge per course of treatment, regardless of how many individual items it includes. Our full NHS dental charges guide sets out all three bands together.
What Band 2 includes
Band 2 covers everything in Band 1 plus the bulk of "restorative" work most people need:
- Fillings — including white and amalgam fillings deemed clinically necessary
- Root canal treatment — clearing infection and saving the tooth
- Extractions — removing one or more teeth
- Everything from Band 1: examination, diagnosis, X-rays, scale and polish, and preventive advice
So a typical Band 2 course might be a check-up plus two fillings, all for the single £75.30 charge.
One charge, however much work
This is the part patients most often miss. If you need a check-up and then four fillings and an extraction in the same course of treatment, you still pay £75.30 once, not per item. The band is about the most complex treatment included, not the quantity.
When you move up to Band 3
If your treatment needs laboratory-made items — crowns, dentures or bridges — the whole course moves to Band 3 at £326.70. You do not pay Band 2 and Band 3; you pay the higher band only. Compare this with private equivalents on our private dentist cost guide, where a single crown alone can cost £500–£1,200.
NHS versus private for Band 2 work
NHS Band 2 is excellent value. A privately paid root canal can run £300–£1,200 and a white filling £90–£300, whereas under the NHS the entire course is £75.30. The trade-off is access and choice of materials. See our NHS vs private comparison for a full breakdown.
Who pays nothing for Band 2
Band 2 treatment is completely free if you are:
- Under 18, or under 19 and in full-time education
- Pregnant or have had a baby in the last 12 months
- Receiving qualifying low-income benefits such as Income Support, income-based JSA or ESA, Pension Credit Guarantee Credit, or Universal Credit within the income thresholds
Full eligibility is on our charges page.
Rest of the UK
These figures apply in England only. Wales sets its own band charges, Scotland often charges a percentage of treatment cost, and Northern Ireland uses its own scale. If you struggle to find NHS care for Band 2 work in the first place, our guide on when you cannot find an NHS dentist explains your options.