NHS dentistry
What NHS dental care covers, what it costs, and how to register at either of our two Harlow practices.
- NHS and private
- Same-day emergencies
- Published fees
- One team, three practices
Registering is not tied to where you live
NHS dental registration in England is not catchment-bound. You do not have to live in a particular part of Harlow, or move surgery because you have moved house. If you were registered somewhere else before, you can register with us and we will simply start a new course of treatment when you come in.
Read more: Registering is not tied to where you live
There is no waiting list to join in the way there is with a GP. What varies is whether a practice is taking on new NHS patients at the time you call, and that changes over the year. Ring the practice nearest you and reception will tell you what is open that week rather than what was open last month.
The three bands, and why you never pay two at once
NHS dentistry in England is charged in three bands plus an urgent rate, and the amounts are set nationally. They are identical at every NHS practice in the country, so the band you pay in Harlow is the band you would pay anywhere.
Read more: The three bands, and why you never pay two at once
A band covers a whole course of treatment, not a single appointment. If your examination turns up a filling, the filling is included in Band 2 and you do not pay Band 1 on top. If the same course later needs a crown, you move up to Band 3 and pay the difference, never both stacked.
- Urgent care, £27.90. Treatment to settle pain, infection or trauma.
- Band 1, £27.90. Examination, X-rays where clinically needed, a scale and polish, and your treatment plan.
- Band 2, £76.60. Everything in Band 1, plus fillings, root canal treatment and extractions.
- Band 3, £332.10. Everything in Bands 1 and 2, plus crowns, dentures and bridges.
Who pays nothing at all
A good number of our Harlow patients are exempt and do not realise it. Children are the clearest case: NHS dental treatment is free for anyone under 18, and for 18-year-olds still in full-time education, which covers sixth form and most college courses.
Read more: Who pays nothing at all
Exemption also applies during pregnancy and for twelve months after giving birth, and to several income-related benefits. Bring your proof to the appointment. If you hold an HC3 certificate for partial help, bring that too and we will apply the maximum it states.
What the NHS does not stretch to
The NHS contract covers what is clinically necessary to keep your mouth healthy and free of pain. It does not extend to appearance-led work. Whitening, veneers and clear aligners are private at both Harlow practices, and white fillings on back teeth are sometimes a private upgrade on an NHS filling.
Read more: What the NHS does not stretch to
That is a scope decision, not a quality one. Plenty of our patients mix the two: an NHS examination and filling, then private whitening later, or NHS care for the children and a private hygiene appointment for a parent. You choose at each visit and we tell you the cost before anything starts.
What NHS registration is open to right now
NHS availability at Enfield Smiles is currently open to patients under 18. Adult NHS lists open and close as capacity allows, so the honest answer is to phone the practice on 020 8804 4320 and ask what the position is that week.
Read more: What NHS registration is open to right now
We would rather tell you plainly than leave you to find out at the door. If adult NHS care is closed when you call, we will say so, and we will explain what a private examination at £35 involves so you can decide from real numbers rather than guesswork.
The charges are national, not local
NHS dental charges in England are set by government and are identical at every NHS practice in the country. Nothing about being in Enfield changes what you pay.
Read more: The charges are national, not local
Each band covers a full course of treatment rather than one appointment, and you only ever pay the highest band that course reaches. Being told a filling costs extra on top of your check-up charge would be wrong.
- Urgent care, £27.90. Treatment aimed at settling pain, swelling or an injury.
- Band 1, £27.90. Examination, any X-rays clinically needed, a scale and polish, and your written plan.
- Band 2, £76.60. Band 1 plus fillings, root canal treatment and extractions.
- Band 3, £332.10. Bands 1 and 2 plus laboratory work such as crowns, dentures and bridges.
Free treatment, and partial help
Nobody under 18 pays for NHS dental treatment, and neither does anyone aged 18 in full-time education. Pregnancy and the twelve months following a birth are also free, as is treatment while receiving several income-related benefits.
Read more: Free treatment, and partial help
The NHS Low Income Scheme sits underneath all of that. An HC2 certificate means full help and an HC3 means partial help up to a stated amount. Bring the certificate with you and we will apply it rather than asking you to claim it back afterwards.
Where the NHS stops at this practice
Cosmetic work sits outside the NHS contract everywhere, so whitening at £350 and clear aligners from £2,700 are private at Enfield Smiles as they would be anywhere else.
Read more: Where the NHS stops at this practice
One thing is specific to this practice rather than to the NHS. We do not place dental implants at Enfield. Patients who want implant treatment are referred to our Nuffield practice in Harlow, where the surgical work is carried out.
Practices Offering NHS dentistry
Nuffield Dental Practice
110–111 The StowHarlowEssex CM20 3AS01279 424 038Church Langley Dental
First Floor, Florence Nightingale Health CentreHarlowEssex CM17 9TE01279 306 690Enfield Smiles
195 High StreetEnfield EN3 4DZ020 8804 4320