NHS ​dental care for students

You can also get free NHS dental treatment if, when the treatment starts or when you're asked to pay:

• you're named on, or entitled to, a valid NHS tax credit exemption certificate
• you're named on a valid HC2 certificate

If you're named on a valid HC3 certificate, you may not have to pay for all your NHS dental treatment. HC2 and HC3 certificates are issued under the NHS Low Income Scheme.

You will not be exempt from paying for NHS dental treatment if you receive one of the benefits below when paid on their own:

• Incapacity Benefit
• contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance
• Disability Living Allowance
• Council Tax Benefit
• Housing Benefit
• Pension Credit savings credit

Proof of your entitlement

You'll be asked to show your dentist written proof that you're entitled to financial help with dental treatment. This will vary depending on your circumstances. To check what documents you need, see the NHS HC11 leaflet: Help with health costs.

Find out more about NHS treatments and costs here.

* subject to appointment availability

Unless you are in one of the groups entitled to free NHS dental treatment, or help with the cost, you'll need to pay 80% of the cost of your NHS dental treatment up to a maximum of £384 per course of treatment.

Find out more about this on the Practitioner Services website.

Costs

The NHS fee structure is complex and varies considerably from patient to patient depending of the treatment required.

Examples of costs can be found on the Scottish Dental website.

Help with costs

The Scottish Government have produced a leaflet providing information on NHS dental costs and getting help with these. It's called A Quick Guide To Help With Health Costs.

Or, when the treatment starts or when the charge is made:

• During the period April 2013 - March 2015 you receive or are included in an award of someone receiving Universal Credit
• You get or are included in an award of someone getting: Income support, or Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Universal Credit, Income Related Employment & Support Allowance or Pension Credit guarantee credit; Income groups page
• You are entitled to, or named on, a valid NHS tax credit exemption certificate
• You are named on a valid HC2W certificate

Partial Help: If you are named on a HC3W certificate you might get some help towards the cost of your NHS dental treatment. Read Low Income Scheme.

Free NHS Dental Examination

You get free dental examinations if you are:

• Aged under 25 on the day you are examined in Wales

Any subsequent treatment as a result of the free examination carries the appropriate charge.