Receiving NHS dental treatment in Scotland

Registering with a dentist

How do you know if you are an NHS patient?

Around 95% of people are registered for NHS dental care and treatment in Scotland. If you’re unsure, check your NHS registration status with the dentist you most recently attended for routine treatment.

If you’re registered with a dentist providing NHS dental care, your practice will be happy to discuss your treatment plan and costs with you before any work is carried out.

Urgent care prior to registration

Read about what to do if you aren’t registered with a dental practice but you need urgent dental treatment.

Registering with a NHS dentist

Not all dentists will take on new NHS patients so it’s important to ask them if they’re able to take you on as an NHS patient during your first contact with them.

Find an NHS dentist in your area or enquire with your local health board. It’s your responsibility to then register with the dentist.

Once you’ve found a dentist that is able to take you on as a new NHS patient, you’ll need to provide some information.

You’ll be asked for your name, address, date of birth and contact details. You’ll then be given an appointment for an enhanced clinical examination. The practice may put you on a waitlist to be registered until you’ve been seen for the enhanced exam, even if they do provide an emergency appointment.

You’ll be asked to complete a full medical history form before your appointment, so please ensure that you bring an up-to-date list of all medicines. This medical history will need to be completed annually.

At this stage you should be given all the relevant information you need about your dentist including:

• the dental services they provide
• who will carry out your dental treatment
• contact information and opening hours

If you want to register your child, you should do this at the same time you register yourself. You don’t have to wait until your child’s teeth grow in, you can register them as soon as they’re born.

You don’t need to pay a deposit for an appointment to register.

Access to a translator

If English is not your first language and a translation service would help you to attend the dentist, you can ask your dental practice for further support. As an NHS patient you are entitled to access translation service free of charge.

Attending the dentist if you have a respiratory illness

If you’ve been asked to attend a dental appointment in person, tell them about your symptoms or positive test.

Further information on coronavirus (COVID-19)

Deregistration

When you register with a dentist you’ll be registered for life, unless you or your dentist requests that your registration is withdrawn.

Your dentist must give you at least 3 months’ notice if they intend to withdraw your registration if you are a NHS patient.

Registration can be withdrawn immediately by the dentist due to violence, or behaviour causing the dentist and dental team distress or fear for their safety.  Registration removal can also happen with less than three months’ notice for reasons such as persistent non-attendance or failing to pay charges.  Removals with less than three months’ notice must be authorised by the Health Board and the patient should be advised of their de-registration in writing.

If you attend another dentist for treatment and don’t tell them you’re registered elsewhere, your registration will automatically transfer to that dentist.

What do you receive as an NHS patient?

Everyone is entitled to a comprehensive range of NHS treatment, advice and care you need to keep your teeth, mouth and gums as healthy as possible. Your dentist will explain which treatments are available on the NHS and which are private to allow you to make an informed decision about your treatment and to understand related costs.

Treatments that you can receive on the NHS include:

• bridges
• crowns
• fillings
• root canal treatment
• preventive advice and treatment for gum disease
• orthodontic braces (according to strict criteria)
• extractions (tooth removal)
• dentures or false teeth

Cosmetic procedures will usually need to be paid for privately.

Childsmile programme

Dental practices can provide preventive care as part of the Childsmile programme for children up to 17 years of age. Maintaining good oral health depends on good diet, regular tooth brushing and intervention from the dental practice. The good habits and preventive care learned through the Childsmile programme need to be maintained in older children.

Preventive Care programme for adults

From 1 November 2023, you may notice that there are some changes to the way your NHS dental treatment is delivered. Based on NICE guidance, your dentist will determine how often you should have a NHS dental examination based on your treatment needs to ensure the best possible care. This may range from less than 6 months to every 2 years. If you are seen less often than 12 months then this is a sign of good oral health. It is important that you attend when recommended and don’t miss appointments.

Adults will continue to be offered a treatment plan which includes an extensive clinical examination. You’ll then receive any further treatments to manage and improve your oral health.

During your NHS dental examination you may be asked about any changes to your medical history, medication or any new allergies. You’ll also be asked about any changes you have noticed such as lumps, bumps or ulcers or if you are having any specific problems. You may also be asked if you smoke or drink alcohol, and if so, how much.

After they’ve established how your general health is, the dental team will do the following:

• examine your mouth including your teeth, gums and tongue
• advise you on how you can keep your mouth healthy
• explain any treatments you may need – if you do need dental treatment they’ll advise you of your options, including what treatments can be carried out on the NHS
• explain any treatment cost

During periods of time between dental examinations, if you have concerns about your oral health, particularly around any lumps, bumps or ulcers in the lining of your mouth, then you may wish to contact your dentist at the earliest opportunity and they will be able to see you sooner.

Your treatment plan

If you need treatment, your dentist will provide you with a treatment plan. A treatment plan is a document that helps to explain the treatment you need and what it will involve. It will also detail an estimate of how much the treatment will cost you. You may be exempt from NHS patient charges.

You can ask for a treatment plan whenever any treatment has been recommended for you. If you want to take a copy away with you, your dentist can arrange this. Ask a member of your dental team if you need help understanding your treatment plan.

Patient charges

From 1 November 2023, if you pay for your NHS dental treatment you may notice an increase in treatment charges. These increases are necessary to ensure that we are able to continue to provide NHS dental services and reflect the increase in cost of delivering the care required for patients.

Everyone in Scotland is entitled to free NHS dental examinations (including review examinations). For some patients all treatment is completely free.

Following a dental examination, the dentist will advise you of any treatment you require and the likely cost. They must also provide an itemised account, if requested.

As before, NHS patients who pay for their treatment pay 80% of the treatment costs. This continues to be capped at a maximum of £384 per course of treatment. Any costs over this maximum continues to be fully subsidised by the NHS. You will never pay more than £384 per course of treatment. The vast majority of patients will pay much less than this cost.

A dentist can ask for payment in advance. They can also charge a patient if they fail to attend for an appointment without giving due notice.

Who is entitled to free treatment on the NHS?

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.

Around 40% of all patients are exempt from paying a contribution towards the cost of their NHS dental care.

NHS Low Income Scheme

Others may be entitled to dental treatment at a reduced cost through the NHS Low Income Scheme (LIS). The LIS helps towards some or all of the cost of NHS patient charges for those who are not automatically entitled to free treatment, who may have difficulty in paying. Help under the scheme is income-related and based on an assessment of each person’s ability to pay.

Read our help with health costs guide to find out if you are eligible for free or reduced cost NHS dental treatment.

What is prior approval?

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.

Are all treatments available on the NHS?

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.

The following table sets out patient charges for common treatment items. The overall NHS fee paid will vary from patient to patient depending on the overall treatment plan require, but you will never pay more than £384 for a course of treatment.

Most patients with good oral health would require an examination, X-rays every so often and preventive advice.

Dental care	Patient charge
Check-up (examination) and prevention
Check-up (examination)	£0.00
Check-up and preventive advice (which can include a scale and polish if deemed necessary)	£15.68
X-rays
Two small X-rays	£11.04
One large X-ray of teeth and jaws	£13.56
Gum disease treatment
Course of oral hygiene and deep gum cleaning (over 1 – 4 separate appointments)	£32.24 to £93.32
Fillings
Small white filling (front tooth)	£21.20
Small metal filling (back tooth)	£12.72
Large metal filling (back tooth)	£27.12
Root canal treatment
Root canal treatment	£94.96 to £153.48
Additional fee for a re-root canal treatment	£44.08
Crowns
Single Crown (for those 17 years or over only)	£149.24 to £185.72
Extractions
Simple extraction (per tooth)	£28.84
Surgical / complex extraction (per tooth)	£55.12 to £75.48
Dentures (false teeth)
Complete upper and lower set of dentures	£344.32

Complaints process

Read information about how to make a complaint about treatment provided by a dentist under NHS arrangements.

This also explains the role of the Patient Advice and Support Service (PASS) in providing independent, free, accessible and confidential advice and support to patients, their carers and families about NHS healthcare.

If you have a complaint you should try to resolve it locally in the first instance either with your practice or through your health board. Each practice will have a complaints procedure. NHS Boards are responsible for overall provision of NHS general dental services in an area. They will act as an honest advisor between yourself and the dental practitioner.

Further information and contact details for each health board

You also have the right to take your complaint further if you feel necessary.

Dental complaints can be made to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO), if you haven’t heard from a practice or health board after 20 working days.

After considering this process, you can raise any serious concerns with the General Dental Council (GDC). The GDC is the UK-wide statutory regulator for dental care professionals. Their main purpose is to protect patient safety and maintain public confidence in dental services. They:

• register qualified dental professionals
• set standards of dental practice
• investigate complaints about dental professionals’ fitness to practice
• work to ensure the quality of dental education

Further information about the role of the GDC