What Are NHS Dental Bands?
NHS Dental Bands are the patient charge categories used in England to determine how much a patient pays towards NHS dental treatment.
The NHS uses three main treatment bands, which group procedures into fixed-price categories. The balance of treatment cost is paid by NHS England directly to the dental practice under its UDA (Units of Dental Activity) contract.
Why Do NHS Dental Bands Matter for Dental Practice Owners?
For owners, NHS bands affect both patient expectations and practice cash flow.
- Patients see fixed prices and often compare band costs with private treatment.
- Practices must track banded activity accurately to align UDAs delivered with income received.
- Misreporting bands can trigger clawbacks or compliance issues.
Example:
- Band 2 charge to patient: ~£70 (rest funded by NHS)
- Band 3 charge to patient: ~£300 (covers crowns, dentures, bridges)
Even though patients pay a fixed fee, the practice is reimbursed through the UDA system, which is separate from the band value.
What Are the NHS Dental Bands in England?
| Band | Patient Charge (England, 2024/25) | Treatments Included |
| Band 1 | £26.80 | Examination, diagnosis, advice, X-rays, scale & polish, preventative care |
| Band 2 | £73.50 | All Band 1 + fillings, extractions, root canal treatment |
| Band 3 | £319.10 | All Band 1 + Band 2 + complex work such as crowns, dentures, bridges |
Note: Prices reviewed annually by NHS England.
How Does DentPulse Link NHS Dental Bands to Practice Profitability?
| Feature | Function |
| Revenue Recognition Engine | Matches UDA delivery with correct band treatments |
| UDA Forecasting | Predicts contract performance and clawback risk |
| Treatment Profitability Index™ | Compares margin on NHS bands vs private equivalents |
| Hybrid Revenue Model Forecasting™ | Models income blend across NHS + private + plan patients |
DentPulse ensures NHS band treatments are counted, tracked, and benchmarked properly against overall practice profitability.
DentPulse Tip™
“NHS bands fix what patients pay — but they don’t fix what you keep.
Tracking UDAs and margins is the only way to see the real impact.”
Related Glossary Terms
- UDA (Units of Dental Activity) – NHS activity measure linked to bands
- NHS Clawback – repayment for under-delivery of contracted UDAs
- Hybrid Revenue Model Forecasting – modelling NHS vs private revenue
- Treatment Profitability Index – compares margins across treatments
- Revenue Recognition – ensures NHS income matches UDAs delivered
Glossary Summary Table
| Term | Meaning |
| NHS Dental Bands | Fixed patient charge categories for NHS dental treatment in England |
| Purpose | Sets standardised patient contributions under NHS dentistry |
| DentPulse Advantage | Links bands to UDA tracking, profitability, and hybrid revenue models |
