Full list of people who can get free NHS dental treatment or help with dental costs

A number of people are eligible for free or reduced cost dental treatment from the NHS, including some DWP benefit claimants

Going to the dentist can be a costly affair for many people in the UK. But there are some people who can get free NHS dental appointments and treatment, or only need to pay part of the cost.

It is useful to find out if you qualify for free or reduced dental costs as it could save you money. If you usually pay for NHS dental treatment, the cost depends on what work your dentist thinks you need.

Treatments are grouped into three bands, and each band has a different cost. If you need a mix of treatments from different bands, you’ll pay for the cost of the highest band. If you need a mix of treatments from the same band, you’ll only pay the band charge once.

Band 1 is £27.40 and includes routine dental appointments, X-rays, simple management of gum disease, moulds of your teeth, and minimal adjustments to false teeth or orthodontic appliances, such as braces. Band 2 is £75.30 and includes fillings, root canal treatment to treat an infection or inflammation in the centre of your tooth, removing teeth and extensive management of gum disease.

Meanwhile, Band 3 is £326.70. This includes all items in Bands 1 and 2, and may include restoring damaged teeth with inlays and onlays, false teeth made from plastic or metal, a fixed replacement for a missing tooth or teeth, orthodontic treatment, such as braces. More cost details can be seen here.

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However, as mentioned above, some people can get free NHS dental treatment or help with dental costs. These details are outlined below.

Free NHS dental treatment in England

You can get free NHS dental appointments and treatment if:

• you're aged under 18, or under 19 and in full-time education
• you're pregnant or have had a baby in the last 12 months
• you've had a stillbirth in the past 12 months
• you're getting treatment in an NHS hospital from a hospital dentist (but you may still need to pay for dentures or bridges)
• you receive War Pension Scheme payments, or Armed Forces Compensation Scheme payments and the treatment is for your accepted disability

You can also get free NHS dental treatment if you or your partner receive certain DWP benefits including:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
• Pension Credit Guarantee Credit with Savings Credit
• Universal Credit – but only if your income is below a certain amount

If you or your partner receive benefits that mean you can get free dental treatment from the NHS, your dependents aged under 20 can also get free dental treatment.

How to get free treatment

If you're eligible, you can only get free NHS dental treatment. You'll need to pay for any private treatment.

Depending on the reason, you'll need to give your dentist proof that you can get free NHS dental treatment. Examples of proof include:

• a valid HC2 certificate – available for people on a low income
• your birth certificate
• a valid maternity exemption certificate (MatB1)
• a notification of birth form, or your baby's birth certificate
• a stillbirth certificate

If you receive War Pension Scheme or Armed Forces Compensation Scheme payments and get free dental treatment, you'll usually need to pay for it yourself first and claim the money back from Veterans UK.

Help with dental costs

If you're not eligible for free treatment and you're on a low income, you may still be able to get help with paying part of the cost from the NHS Low Income Scheme. If you get help from the NHS Low Income Scheme, you'll get an HC3 certificate which will show how much you'll pay for dental treatment. You'll need to show your HC3 certificate to your dentist. More information is available here.