Can you get composite bonding on the NHS?

Generally not for cosmetic reasons. NHS dental care covers treatment that is clinically necessary, so a chipped or decayed tooth may be repaired with a filling, but reshaping or changing the look of teeth is private. Toothi in Edgware is a fully private practice: edge bonding is £195 per tooth and composite veneers £295 per tooth. Here’s how the rules work.

The NHS provides the treatment your dentist considers clinically necessary to keep your mouth healthy. Cosmetic work isn’t part of that. The NHS website states that teeth whitening is not available on the NHS and that veneers are generally only available privately unless you can show a clinical need. Cosmetic bonding follows the same principle.

Repairing a damaged tooth is different. The NHS says white fillings are available on the NHS when clinically necessary. So a broken or decayed front tooth can be restored on the NHS. Making teeth longer, closing gaps or changing their shape for appearance is private.

Your NHS dentist decides, based on your mouth. As a rough guide:

• ✓  Usually clinical: restoring a tooth broken in an accident, repairing decay, replacing a failed filling, treating sensitivity from exposed tooth.
• ✓  Usually cosmetic: closing small gaps, lengthening worn edges for appearance, evening up uneven teeth, covering stains, or a “smile makeover” across several teeth.

A filling and cosmetic bonding use similar materials, but they’re done for different reasons. A repair gets the tooth working again. Cosmetic bonding is shaped, layered and polished to change how your smile looks.

NHS Charges

Real patient results

Composite bonding results from our patients

Chips, gaps and worn edges rebuilt in tooth-coloured composite at Toothi in Edgware.

Photos of our own patients, shared with their consent. Individual results vary.

See more bonding before and afters →

How much is composite bonding per tooth on the NHS?

The NHS doesn’t price cosmetic bonding, because it doesn’t provide it. Clinically necessary work in England is charged by band, not per tooth. According to nhs.uk, Band 1 (examination) is £27.90 and Band 2, which includes fillings, is £76.60. Charges differ in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and some people are exempt.

Toothi doesn’t provide NHS treatment. If you’re looking for an NHS dentist, the NHS website has a search tool for practices taking patients.

Our fees are fixed and published. Every bonding price includes the consultation, shade match, treatment and a review appointment. The bonding consultation is free, with photos and a same-day written quote.

Prices are fixed and taken from our fees page.

Treatment over £250 can be spread over up to 10 months at 0%. Cherry Dental Ltd trading as Toothi is a credit broker, not a lender, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 957242). Credit is provided by Tabeo, subject to status.

Bonding usually needs no drilling and no injection. We match the composite to your shade and build it up in layers, setting each one with a blue light. Then we shape it, check your bite and polish it, all in one visit. We review it afterwards at no extra charge. Read more on our composite bonding page, our composite bonding cost guide, edge bonding, and composite bonding aftercare. For a chipped tooth, see chipped tooth repair cost.