NHS Dental Charges (Scotland)

These charges are set nationally by the Scottish Government and are the same across all NHS dental practices.

Check-up & Prevention

  • Check-up (examination) – £0.00
  • Check-up with preventive advice – £17.32

X-Rays

  • Two small X-rays – £12.16
  • One large X-ray – £14.92

Gum Disease Treatment

  • Deep gum cleaning (1–4 appointments) – £35.52 – £142.08

Fillings

  • Small white filling (front tooth) – £23.36
  • Small metal filling (back tooth) – £14.00
  • Large metal filling (back tooth) – £29.92

Root Canal Treatment

  • Root canal treatment – £104.68 – £169.20
  • Re-root canal treatment – £48.60

Crowns

  • Single crown – £164.52 – £204.76

Extractions

  • Simple extraction – £31.80
  • Surgical/complex extraction – £60.76 – £83.20

Dentures

  • Complete upper and lower dentures – £379.60

Maximum patient charge per course of treatment: £384.

NHS Scotland logo with blue text and a stylized wave design.

  • NHS treatment is free for:

    • everyone aged under 26

    • people who are pregnant or have given birth in the last 12 months

    • those with certificated exemption from patient charge because of income or receipt of certain benefits

    If you are exempt from patient charges during a course of treatment, tell the dentist and ensure that you bring the evidence with you

  • Your dentist may inform you that they have to apply for prior approval before your treatment can be started. Dentists are required to seek approval from the NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) Practitioner Services, for certain treatments and/or treatment plans of high value. This process may take a little time and delay your treatment slightly

  • Not all clinical procedures performed by dentists are available on the NHS. Procedures which are cosmetic or aesthetic in nature are usually only available privately. For example, white fillings, tooth whitening or dental implants.

    Your dentist will be able to explain what treatment is and isn’t allowed on the NHS. If, for example, you wish to mix NHS and private treatment on the one tooth, such as an NHS root canal treatment with a private white filling, then this is allowed. Your dentist can provide you with an estimate of costs involved