You do not have to pay for NHS dental treatment if, when the treatment starts, you are:

aged under 18

under 19 and receiving full-time education

pregnant or have had a baby in the previous 12 months

staying in an NHS hospital and your treatment is carried out by the hospital dentist

an NHS hospital dental service outpatient (however, you may have to pay for your dentures or bridges).

You do not have to pay if, during the course of treatment, you or your partner, receive:

Income Support

Income-related Employment and Support Allowance

Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance

Pension Credit guarantee credit

Universal Credit

or

you are named on a valid NHS tax credit exemption certificate or you are entitled to an NHS tax credit exemption certificate

you are named on a valid HC2 certificate

Find out more about the NHS Low Income Scheme (LIS).

Partial help

If your name is on a valid HC3 certificate, you may not have to pay for all your treatment. Checks are made on free and reduced cost treatment claims. If you say you have the right to free treatment when you do not, you may incur a penalty charge.

Note

You will not be exempt from paying because you receive: Incapacity Benefit, contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance, contribution-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Council Tax Benefit, Housing Benefit or Pension Credit savings credit, when paid on their own.

Medical conditions do not exempt patients from payment for dental treatment.

You will be asked to show your dentist written proof that you do not have to pay for all or part of your NHS treatment. You will also be asked to sign a form to confirm that you do not have to pay.