Oral Health›Dental visits and treatments

Dental Costs and Where to Get Help

How dental care is paid for in the UK, Australia and the US, who can get free or lower-cost care, and practical questions to ask about costs before treatment starts.

Updated September 2026·By the OHA editorial team·8 min read·How we write
Key takeaways
  • In England, most adults pay NHS dental charges, grouped into 3 bands. Children, pregnant people and new mothers, and people on some benefits get NHS treatment free. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own rules.
  • In Australia, Medicare does not cover most dental care. Eligible children can get help through the Child Dental Benefits Schedule, and state and territory public dental services treat eligible adults, often after a wait.
  • In the US, Medicaid must cover dental care for children, but adult cover varies by state. Medicare covers very little dental care. Dental schools and community health centres can offer lower-cost care.
  • Wherever you live, ask what treatment you need, what it will cost and whether there are cheaper options before you agree to it.

Dental care is paid for very differently in the UK, Australia and the US. This guide sets out each system as the official bodies describe it, and where to look for help. Charges and rules change, so check the pages listed under Sources.

UK

England: NHS charge bands

The NHS says most adults pay for NHS dental treatment, which is grouped into 3 bands, each with a set charge:

  • Band 1: an examination, X-rays if clinically needed, fluoride, and scaling (a thorough clean) if clinically needed.
  • Band 2: everything in Band 1, plus treatment such as fillings, root canal treatment and extractions.
  • Band 3: everything in Bands 1 and 2, plus crowns, dentures, bridges and orthodontic treatment such as braces.

If you need treatments from different bands, you pay only the charge for the highest band. If you need more treatment within 2 months in the same or a lower band, you do not pay again. We have not quoted the amounts because they change: see the NHS page How much NHS dental treatment costs for the current charges.

Cosmetic treatment is usually private, and your dentist must make clear which treatments are NHS and which private, with the costs of each. For Band 2, Band 3, or a mix of NHS and private treatment, your dentist has to give you a written treatment plan with the costs. You can ask for one for Band 1 too.

Who gets free NHS dental treatment in England?

The NHS says treatment is free if you are under 18 (or under 19 and in full-time education), pregnant or have had a baby or a stillbirth in the last 12 months, being treated by a hospital dentist in an NHS hospital, or if you or your partner receive certain benefits, such as Pension Credit Guarantee Credit or Universal Credit below an income limit. You may need to show proof. On a low income but not entitled to free treatment? The NHS Low Income Scheme may help with part of the cost.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

  • Scotland: NHS inform says NHS dental examinations are free for everyone, and treatment is free for everyone under 26, people who are pregnant or have given birth in the last 12 months, and people exempt because of income or benefits. Others pay 80% of the cost of treatment, and at the time of writing never more than £384 per course of treatment.
  • Wales: the Welsh Government says examinations are free if you are under 25 or 60 and over. Treatment is free for under-18s, 18-year-olds in full-time education, pregnant people and new mothers, and people on certain benefits or a low income. Wales charges one fee per course of treatment or "care package", with a maximum total charge of £384 at the time of writing.
  • Northern Ireland: nidirect says treatment is free for under-18s, 18-year-olds in full-time education, pregnant people and new mothers, and people on certain benefits, with a Low Income Scheme for others. Charges are published each year in the Statement of Dental Remuneration.

Australia

What Medicare covers

healthdirect says the Australian Government does not generally cover dental costs, so you pay for most dental care yourself. Most care is provided by private clinics, which set their own fees, so costs vary widely.

Child Dental Benefits Schedule

The Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) is a means-tested Australian Government program for children aged 0 to 17. Services Australia says the child must be eligible for Medicare, and they or their parent or carer must get a payment from Services Australia.

healthdirect says it covers standard services such as check-ups, X-rays, cleaning, sealing cracked teeth, fillings, root canal treatment and extractions, with a capped benefit over 2 calendar years. It does not cover orthodontic or cosmetic work, or dental services in hospital. Most CDBS services are bulk billed, meaning you pay nothing. Check the current cap and your child's eligibility with Services Australia.

Public dental services

healthdirect says each state and territory runs public dental services for children and adults. Adults need a Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card, the rules vary depending on where you live, and you may wait up to a year or more. Some Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations also provide dental care. As an example of how rules differ, Victoria's Department of Health says all children aged 0 to 12 there are eligible, and some groups, such as pregnant people, get priority. Check your state or territory health department.

Private health insurance

healthdirect says many Australians use the "extras" part of private health insurance to help pay for dental care. The fund pays part of the cost and you pay the rest, and policies vary widely in what they cover and annual limits. Check your policy before treatment.

US

Medicaid and CHIP

Medicaid is run by each state. The US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services says Medicaid must cover dental services for all enrolled children, but for adults there are no minimum requirements, and states decide what to provide. NIDCR says most states offer only limited adult dental services.

The Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is for children whose families earn too much for Medicaid but cannot afford private insurance. NIDCR says it provides dental services up to age 19, varying by state, and points to Insure Kids Now (1-877-543-7669) to find programmes.

Medicare

Medicare is for people aged 65 and over and some younger people with disabilities. Medicare.gov says it does not usually cover routine cleanings, fillings, extractions, dentures or implants, but may cover some dental care linked to certain medical treatment, such as treating a mouth infection before chemotherapy. See cancer treatment and your mouth.

Lower-cost options

NIDCR suggests:

  • Dental schools and dental hygiene schools, where students treat patients at reduced cost under close supervision by licensed dentists.
  • Community health centres, federally funded centres where you pay what you can afford based on your income.
  • Your state or local health department, which may know of free or reduced-cost programmes, or calling 2-1-1 to find local services.

Questions to ask about cost

healthdirect suggests that before you agree to treatment, you:

  1. ask your dentist how much it will cost, and ask for the item numbers so you can compare prices with other dentists
  2. ask whether you really need the procedure, and whether the benefits outweigh the risks
  3. ask whether there are cheaper alternatives, such as a less expensive type of filling
  4. talk to your dentist about preventing tooth decay and gum disease in future

The NHS says the dental professional should tell you the cost before starting treatment, and NHS inform (Scotland) says the dentist must give an itemised account if you ask. healthdirect says the best way to reduce dental costs is to look after your teeth. See how to brush your teeth, cleaning between your teeth and dental check-ups.

Before you agree to treatment
  • Ask what the treatment is for, what it will cost, and whether cheaper options exist.
  • UK: ask which parts are NHS and which private, and for a written treatment plan.
  • Australia and US: check what your health fund, the CDBS, Medicaid or other cover will pay, and (as the American Dental Association suggests) ask about fees and payment plans before booking.
Get help urgently
  • In the UK, the NHS says that if you think you have a dental abscess, ask for an urgent dentist appointment, and if you do not have a dentist or cannot get an emergency appointment, call 111. In Australia, healthdirect says public dental services may include emergency dental services.
  • The NHS says to call 999 or go to A&E (or your local emergency number) if you have a dental abscess and are finding it hard to breathe, speak or swallow, have a swollen or painful eye or problems with your eyesight, have a lot of swelling in your mouth, or find it hard to open your mouth. See dental emergencies.

Frequently asked questions

Are NHS dental check-ups free?

In England, a check-up is a Band 1 treatment, so most adults pay unless they qualify for free care. Examinations are free for everyone in Scotland, and in Wales for under-25s and people aged 60 and over.

Does Medicare in Australia pay for dental care?

Not generally, says healthdirect, apart from some children's services through the Child Dental Benefits Schedule.

Can adults get dental cover through Medicaid?

It depends on your state, which chooses what adult dental benefits to offer (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services). NIDCR suggests contacting your state Medicaid programme.

Sources

  1. How much NHS dental treatment costs, NHS, accessed September 2026
  2. Who can get free NHS dental treatment or help with dental costs, NHS, accessed September 2026
  3. Dental services available on the NHS, NHS, accessed September 2026
  4. Dental abscess, NHS, accessed September 2026
  5. Receiving NHS dental treatment in Scotland, NHS inform (Scotland), accessed September 2026
  6. NHS dental charges and exemptions, Welsh Government, accessed September 2026
  7. Seeing a dentist, nidirect (Northern Ireland), accessed September 2026
  8. Cost of dental care, healthdirect Australia, accessed September 2026
  9. Child Dental Benefits Schedule, Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, accessed September 2026
  10. Child Dental Benefits Schedule, Services Australia, accessed September 2026
  11. Access to Victoria's public dental care services, Victorian Department of Health, accessed September 2026
  12. Finding dental care, NIH National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, accessed September 2026
  13. Dental care, Medicaid.gov (US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services), accessed September 2026
  14. Dental services, Medicare.gov (US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services), accessed September 2026
  15. Common questions about going to the dentist, American Dental Association (MouthHealthy), accessed September 2026

This article is general information about oral health. It is not a diagnosis or a substitute for advice from a dentist or doctor who knows your situation. If you have pain, swelling, bleeding that does not settle, or a problem that is getting worse, see a dental professional. In an emergency, contact your local emergency service.

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