No. In England, NHS dental treatment does not become free at 60. It does not become free at 66 (the state pension age) or at any later age either. If you are over 60, you pay the same NHS dental charges as a 30-year-old.
There are 2 ways an older person can get free NHS dental treatment. The first is Pension Credit Guarantee Credit. The second is the NHS Low Income Scheme. Both are based on money, not age. Many people who could use them do not.
Why so many people think it is free
Prescriptions are free at 60 in England. People often assume dental treatment follows the same rule. It does not. The two are separate systems.
In 2021 the government asked whether the free prescription age should rise to 66. In 2023 it confirmed that it would stay at 60. Nothing about dental charges changed.
Wales adds to the confusion. In Wales, people aged 60 and over get free NHS dental check-ups. They still pay for treatment such as fillings. That rule does not apply in England, so it does not apply in London. In Scotland, check-ups are free for everyone.
A medical exemption certificate (the card some people get for free prescriptions because of a condition such as diabetes) does not cover dental treatment either.
What you pay if you are not exempt
NHS dental charges are the same for every age. From 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027 they are:
| What you have | You pay |
|---|---|
| A check-up, with X-rays and a scale and polish if needed (Band 1) | £27.90 |
| A check-up plus fillings, extractions or root canal treatment (Band 2) | £76.60 |
| A check-up plus crowns, bridges or dentures (Band 3) | £332.10 |
| Urgent treatment | £27.90 |
NHS dental charges in England, 2026/27.
You pay one charge for the whole course of treatment, at the highest band it includes. So new dentures and 2 fillings in the same course cost £332.10 in total. Our NHS dental charges guide explains the bands in more detail.
Route 1: Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
If you or your partner get Pension Credit Guarantee Credit, your NHS dental treatment is free. This is true whether or not you also get Savings Credit. Savings Credit on its own does not count.
Guarantee Credit tops up your weekly income if you are over state pension age. In 2026/27 it tops up your income to £238 a week if you are single, or £363.25 a week for a couple. You may get more if you are disabled, a carer, or have housing costs.
A lot of people miss out. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) estimates that in 2023/24, only 62% of the people who could get Pension Credit claimed it. That is about 6 in 10. Up to 910,000 families who were entitled did not claim.
Even a small amount of Pension Credit gives you free NHS dental treatment. It can also help with other costs, such as Council Tax. If you are 75 or over, it also gives you a free TV licence.
To check, use the Pension Credit calculator on GOV.UK. You can also call the Pension Credit claim line. A claim can usually be backdated by up to 3 months.
Route 2: the NHS Low Income Scheme
The Low Income Scheme is for people who are not on a qualifying benefit but still have a low income. It is open to all ages. It suits many pensioners who live on a small private pension and the state pension.
You apply on form HC1, online at the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) website or on paper. The NHSBSA looks at your income, your savings and your housing costs. You cannot apply if you have more than £16,000 in savings, investments or property (not counting your home). The limit is £23,250 if you live permanently in a care home.
You get one of 2 certificates:
- HC2 means full help. Your NHS dental treatment is free.
- HC3 means partial help. The certificate shows the most you have to pay for a course of treatment.
Here is how an HC3 works. Say your certificate says you pay up to £50. New dentures (Band 3, £332.10) would cost you £50. A check-up (Band 1, £27.90) would still cost £27.90, because that is less than £50.
Other routes that apply to some older people
- War Pension or Armed Forces Compensation Scheme. If you get either one, treatment for your accepted disability is free.
- Hospital inpatients. If a hospital dentist treats you while you are an NHS inpatient, the treatment is free.
These do not give you free NHS dental treatment on their own: your age, the state pension, Attendance Allowance, Blue Badge or disability status, or a medical exemption certificate. For the full list of who qualifies at any age, see is the NHS dentist free?
If you paid but you were entitled
If you paid for NHS dental treatment while you were entitled to free treatment, you can get the money back. Ask the practice for form HC5(D). Send it with your receipt within 3 months of paying.
Do not tick a box on the practice form unless you are sure. The NHSBSA checks claims later. A wrong claim means you pay the charge plus a penalty of up to £100, even if the mistake was honest.
Other ways to pay less
Dental schools. At Guy’s Hospital, undergraduate dental students give free routine treatment to adults, supervised by qualified dentists. This includes fillings, simple gum treatment, dentures, root canal treatment and some crowns. It runs in term time only and is not for complex cases. Our guide to affordable dental care in London lists the London dental schools.
Keep going regularly. NHS dental practices do not register patients the way GPs do. But many practices stop treating you as a regular patient if you have not been for about 2 years. If they have no NHS space, you may then struggle to get back in. We explain this in the 2-year rule.
Why check-ups matter more after 60
Mouth cancer. Mouth cancer is more common in older people. At every check-up, the dentist looks at the soft parts of your mouth for patches, ulcers or lumps. This is part of the check-up and costs nothing extra.
Dry mouth. Many common medicines cause dry mouth. These include some medicines for blood pressure, depression, bladder problems and allergies. Saliva protects your teeth, so less saliva means more decay. If your mouth feels drier than before, tell your dentist.
Gum disease. If you have decay in 5 or more teeth, or serious gum disease, you may be offered an NHS care pathway. This is a planned course of treatment over 6 to 12 months. Most people pay one Band 2 charge (£76.60) for the whole pathway. The charges guide explains who can get one.
Frequently asked questions
Is dental treatment free for pensioners?
Not because of age. Pensioners get free NHS dental treatment only if they get Pension Credit Guarantee Credit or hold an HC2 certificate from the Low Income Scheme. Everyone else pays the normal charges.
Is NHS dental treatment free at 66?
No. Reaching state pension age does not change what you pay for NHS dental treatment.
Do I get free dental treatment if I get free prescriptions?
No. Free prescriptions at 60, and medical exemption certificates, only cover prescriptions. Dental charges have their own rules.
Does Attendance Allowance give free dental treatment?
No. Attendance Allowance is not a qualifying benefit for NHS dental charges. You may still qualify through Pension Credit or the Low Income Scheme.
Charges and benefit rates are for 2026/27 and usually change each April.