Help with NHS dental costs after All-on-6

All-on-6 is private treatment, and nothing in the NHS system will help pay for it. But once your new teeth are fitted, you will need routine dental care for life, and that can be NHS care. For some people, it can be free. This article explains the help available in England, based on the NHS's own guidance, and how to use it after treatment. If you live in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, the rules differ; see NHS dental charges across the UK.

What the charges are

In England, NHS dental treatment is charged in bands: Band 1 at £27.90 for check-ups and routine care, Band 2 at £76.60 for treatment such as extractions or more extensive gum care, and Band 3 at £332.10 for crowns, bridges and dentures. After All-on-6, most of your NHS care is likely to be Band 1. Over several years, with check-ups twice a year if your dentist advises, that adds up, and help with costs can make a real difference.

Who gets free NHS dental treatment

The NHS lists several groups who get free NHS dental treatment in England. The ones most likely to apply to adults considering All-on-6 are people who, or whose partner, receive:

• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
• Pension Credit Guarantee Credit with Savings Credit
• Universal Credit, but only if income is below a certain amount

Free treatment also applies to people receiving War Pension Scheme or Armed Forces Compensation Scheme payments when the treatment is for their accepted disability, though the NHS says they usually pay first and claim back. Other groups, such as under-18s and pregnant women, are less likely to be relevant here.

Age on its own does not give free NHS dental treatment for adults in England. That surprises many people, because prescriptions work differently.

The NHS Low Income Scheme

If you do not receive one of those benefits but your income is low, you can apply to the NHS Low Income Scheme, run by the NHS Business Services Authority. Depending on your circumstances, you may receive:

You show the certificate to your dentist. The NHS website links to the NHS Business Services Authority's eligibility checker and online application.

Proving you are entitled

If you are entitled to free treatment, you will usually need to show proof to the dental practice, such as a valid HC2 certificate or evidence of the qualifying benefit. Ask the practice what it needs before your appointment. Check your eligibility before you claim.

If you paid when you did not need to

The NHS says that if you paid for NHS dental treatment but later found you were entitled to free or reduced-cost treatment, you may be able to claim a refund through the NHS Business Services Authority. Keep your receipts from NHS dental visits in case.

What help with costs does not cover

• Private treatment, including All-on-6 itself and private hygienist visits.
• Treatment abroad. The NHS does not refund dental treatment you have overseas.
• Repairs to the implant bridge, which are usually private work.

Budget for those separately. The lifetime cost sets out what to plan for.

Finding an NHS dentist

Help with costs only matters if you can get NHS appointments. The NHS says you can contact any NHS dentist to ask for an appointment for a routine check-up, though there may be a waiting list. If you cannot find one, your local integrated care board may be able to help. It is worth arranging this before you travel, so that someone at home can see you after your treatment.

Putting it into your budget

If you qualify for free treatment, your NHS check-ups cost nothing, and your upkeep budget is mostly cleaning aids, any private hygiene visits and a reserve for bridge repairs. If you have an HC3 certificate, use the amount it shows. If you pay full charges, budget £27.90 per Band 1 course. Our UK check-up costs article has a yearly table you can adapt.

Prescriptions

Help with health costs can also cover NHS prescriptions in England, where the standard charge is £9.90 per item. After treatment abroad you may need painkillers or other medicines at home. The NHS has a tool to check whether you can get free prescriptions. See prescription and pharmacy costs after All-on-6.

If you are planning on a fixed income

Many people having All-on-6 are retired. If you receive Pension Credit Guarantee Credit, NHS dental care in England is free, which lowers the lifetime cost of your new teeth. If your income is low but you do not receive it, the Low Income Scheme may help. Both are worth checking before you finalise your budget; planning All-on-6 on a pension covers the wider picture.

A worked example

Consider two people with identical aftercare needs after All-on-6: two NHS check-ups a year in England, each a Band 1 course. One pays full charges; the other receives Pension Credit Guarantee Credit.

NHS England charges from nhs.uk. Private hygienist visits and bridge repairs are paid in both cases.

The amounts are modest, but over the life of your implants they add up, and they are easy to claim if you are entitled.

Before your first appointment

• Check your eligibility using the NHS Business Services Authority's checker.
• Apply for an HC2 or HC3 certificate if you might qualify on income.
• Have your proof ready, such as a benefit award letter or certificate.
• Tell the practice when you book that you expect free or reduced-cost treatment.

If your circumstances change

Entitlement to help with NHS costs depends on your circumstances at the time of treatment. If you start receiving a qualifying benefit, or your income falls, check again; you may become entitled to free or reduced-cost care. HC2 and HC3 certificates have an end date, so note when yours expires and reapply in good time.

If you are not sure whether you qualify, it costs nothing to check. The NHS Business Services Authority’s online checker asks a few questions about your circumstances and tells you what help you might get with dental charges, prescriptions and other health costs.

The bottom line

The NHS will not pay for All-on-6, but it may pay for the check-ups that keep it healthy. In England, certain benefits give free NHS dental treatment, and the Low Income Scheme gives full or partial help through HC2 and HC3 certificates. Check your eligibility, find an NHS dentist before you travel, keep receipts, and build the answer into your yearly budget.

Common questions

Does help with NHS costs cover my All-on-6 treatment?

No. All-on-6 is private treatment, and the NHS does not refund treatment abroad. Help with costs applies to NHS dental care, such as check-ups at home.

What is an HC2 certificate?

A certificate from the NHS Low Income Scheme that gives full help with certain NHS health costs, including NHS dental treatment, for people on a low income.

What is an HC3 certificate?

A certificate for partial help. It shows how much you will need to pay towards NHS dental treatment.

Can I get a refund if I paid but was entitled to free treatment?

You may be able to. The NHS says refunds can be claimed through the NHS Business Services Authority.

Is NHS dental care free for over-60s in England?

Not because of age alone. Free treatment in England depends on circumstances such as certain benefits. Wales offers free examinations for people aged 60 or over.

Sources

1. NHS — Who can get free NHS dental treatment or help with dental costs
2. NHS — How much NHS dental treatment costs
3. GOV.WALES — NHS dental charges and exemptions
4. NHS — Check if you can get free prescriptions and help with NHS costs

Checked October 2026. Where we give our own view as a clinic, we say so.