At Castle Street Dental Practice, we are proud to provide NHS dental care to our local community. We believe everyone deserves access to good dentistry, and our NHS patients are looked after by the same friendly, experienced team, in the same surgeries, and to the same clinical standards as our private patients.
This page explains how NHS dental charges work, what each treatment band covers, who is entitled to free treatment, and how NHS and private care can work together. If you have any questions, our reception team is always happy to help.
Please contact the practice on 01494 527 971 to check our current NHS availability.
NHS orthodontic treatment (braces) is available free of charge for under 18s who have a clear clinical need, assessed using a national scoring system. If we think your child may benefit from orthodontic treatment, we will talk you through the options, which may include a referral to an NHS orthodontist or private options such as Invisalign®.
There is no need to register with an NHS dentist in the same way you register with a GP. Simply contact the practice to ask about our current NHS availability, and our team will explain the next steps. When you attend, please bring:
Under NHS guidelines, how often you need a check-up depends on your oral health. It could be anything from every three months to every two years for adults, and up to every year for children. Your dentist will recommend the right interval for you.
NHS appointments are in high demand. If you cannot attend, please give us as much notice as possible so we can offer your appointment to another patient.
If you would like more choice over appointment times, access to a wider range of treatments and materials, or simply the peace of mind of spreading the cost of your routine care, our Practice Membership Plan could be a good fit. For £19.95 a month, it includes two check-ups and two hygiene appointments a year, plus 10% off general and cosmetic treatments and 50% off teeth whitening.
Contact us to check NHS availability
Eligibility and free treatment
NHS and private care
NHS dental charges in England are set by the government, not by the practice, and are the same at every NHS dental practice in the country. They are usually reviewed each April.
You pay one charge for each complete course of treatment, however many appointments it takes. If your treatment includes items from more than one band, you only pay the charge for the highest band.
Band 1 covers your check-up and the preventive care you need to keep your mouth healthy. This includes:
Band 2 covers everything in Band 1, plus further treatment such as:
Band 3 covers everything in Bands 1 and 2, plus more complex treatment that usually involves a dental laboratory, such as:
If you are in pain or have a dental emergency, urgent NHS treatment costs £27.90. This covers what is needed to get you out of pain and stabilise the problem, for example an assessment, X-rays, a temporary filling, draining an abscess or taking out a tooth. You pay just one urgent charge, even if more than one appointment is needed.
If you need further routine treatment afterwards, such as a permanent filling or a crown, this will be charged separately at the appropriate band.
If you are in pain, please call us as early in the day as possible, and we will do our best to help. Outside of opening hours, call NHS 111 for advice on urgent dental care.
You do not have to pay for NHS dental treatment if, when your treatment starts, you are:
Help with costs: If you are on a low income, you may be able to get help through the NHS Low Income Scheme. An HC2 certificate gives you free NHS dental treatment, and an HC3 certificate gives you partial help towards the cost. You can check what help you may be entitled to using the NHS eligibility checker on the NHS Business Services Authority website.
Please bring proof: If you are claiming free or reduced-cost treatment, you will be asked to sign a form and show proof of your entitlement. It is your responsibility to make sure your claim is correct. The NHS carries out checks, and if you claim free treatment when you are not entitled to it, you may be asked to pay a penalty charge of up to £100 on top of the treatment cost.
The NHS provides all the treatment that is clinically necessary to keep your mouth, teeth and gums healthy. Treatments that are mainly cosmetic are not available on the NHS. These include:
You can find out more about these treatments and their prices on our individual treatment pages and our Fees page.
You can have some of your treatment on the NHS and some privately if you choose. For example, you might have your check-up and fillings on the NHS, but choose a private white filling on a back tooth, a more natural-looking crown material, or cosmetic treatment such as whitening.
Your dentist will always tell you what is available on the NHS and explain any private alternatives, including the costs, so you can make an informed choice. You will never be pressured into choosing private treatment, and any private items will be clearly shown on your treatment plan.
NHS orthodontic treatment (braces) is available free of charge for under 18s who have a clear clinical need, assessed using a national scoring system. If we think your child may benefit from orthodontic treatment, we will talk you through the options, which may include a referral to an NHS orthodontist or private options such as Invisalign®.
An NHS check-up is a Band 1 treatment and costs £27.90 (from 1 April 2026). This includes the examination, any X-rays needed, advice, and a scale and polish if clinically needed.
Fillings are a Band 2 treatment. The Band 2 charge of £76.60 covers your whole course of treatment, so if you need more than one filling, or a filling and an extraction, you still pay £76.60.
Crowns are a Band 3 treatment and cost £332.10. This also covers any other treatment you need in the same course, such as fillings or a root canal.
Urgent NHS dental treatment costs £27.90. This covers what is needed to relieve pain and stabilise the problem.
No. NHS dental charges are set nationally and are the same at every NHS practice in England.
Please ask our reception team about when payment is taken for your course of treatment. We will always make sure you know what you are paying before treatment begins.
Booking is quick and easy, online, by phone, or in person. We offer flexible appointments to suit your schedule, with NHS and private options available.
New patients note: We’re welcoming new NHS and private patients. Contact us to register or book your first appointment.
