NHS dental care
NHS dental care in Ipswich: charges and availability
We accept new NHS patients subject to current availability and practice capacity. NHS charges are set nationally for England, and you pay one charge for a complete course of treatment rather than for each appointment.
Current charges
| Band 1 | £27.90 |
|---|---|
| Band 2 | £76.60 |
| Band 3 | £332.10 |
| Urgent care | £27.90 |
Set nationally for England from 1 April 2026.
The three bands
What each NHS charge band covers
NHS treatment is grouped into three bands, and each band includes everything in the bands below it. Urgent care has its own charge.
Band 1
£27.90
- Examination and diagnosis
- X-rays, if you need them
- Advice to help prevent dental problems
- Scale and polish, when your dentist says you need one
- Planning for further treatment
Band 2
£76.60
- Everything included in Band 1
- Fillings
- Root canal treatment
- Tooth extractions
- Treatment for more complex gum problems, if you need it
Band 3
£332.10
- Everything included in Bands 1 and 2
- Crowns
- Bridges
- Dentures
- Braces and other orthodontic appliances, where the NHS criteria are met
- Other custom-made dental appliances (sports mouthguards are provided privately)
Urgent care
£27.90
A separate charge from the three treatment bands. It covers the treatment needed to deal with an urgent problem such as pain, swelling or a broken tooth. If you are in pain today, see emergency appointments.
- Examination, assessment and X-rays, if you need them
- Temporary treatment, such as a dressing or one urgent filling
- Other urgent care, such as draining an abscess, refixing a crown or bridge, or removing up to two teeth
How the charges work
Four things worth knowing before you book
NHS charging works differently from paying privately, and these are the points people ask about most.
One charge per course, not per visit
If your treatment takes three appointments, you pay one charge, not three. A course of treatment runs from the examination through to the completion of the treatment that was planned.
You pay the highest band only
If a course of treatment spans more than one band, you pay the charge for the highest band that applies. A Band 3 course costs £332.10 in total, whatever else it includes.
You are told the charge before treatment begins
We tell you the NHS charge before any treatment starts, so you know what you are agreeing to and can ask about it first.
NHS care covers what keeps your mouth healthy
NHS treatment covers what is needed to keep your mouth, teeth and gums healthy. Treatment purely to change how your teeth look, such as whitening, is provided privately.
If you would like something beyond what the NHS provides, you can pay privately for that part. We tell you which parts are private before anything starts, and the choice is yours.
Exemptions and extra charges
Free treatment and replacement-appliance charges
Some people are entitled to free NHS dental treatment or help with the cost. A separate charge applies when a lost or broken NHS appliance has to be replaced.
Who pays nothing
- Anyone under 18
- Under 19 and in full-time education
- Pregnant, or having had a baby in the previous 12 months
- Receiving certain qualifying benefits, or being named on a valid HC2 certificate (full help with health costs)
A valid HC3 certificate (part help with health costs) reduces the cost. You will be asked to confirm your entitlement at the appointment, so bring proof with you. The rules change, so check the current position on NHS.uk if you are unsure.
Replacing a lost or broken appliance
Repairing an NHS denture is free. If an NHS denture, bridge or brace is lost or broken and has to be replaced, the charge is £99.60 per appliance.
If replacement is needed because of normal wear and tear, or because your clinical needs have changed, the usual Band 3 charge of £332.10 applies instead, unless you are entitled to free or reduced-cost NHS treatment.
The £99.60 replacement charge applies even if you qualify for free or reduced-cost NHS treatment. You may be able to claim a refund if paying caused undue financial hardship or if you took reasonable care of the appliance.
Ask about an NHS place, or book privately
Call reception or send an enquiry to ask about NHS availability. Private care is also available at our Berners Street practice: a new patient appointment is £100 and membership plans start at £14.75 a month. See our private fees and membership plans.