Northern Ireland — NHS SDR (Statement of Dental Remuneration) Pricing System
Regulated by Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA). Northern Ireland uses an SDR itemised fee system. Patients pay 80% of the scheduled procedure fee, with a per-course cap of £384.
NHS Dental Charges in Northern Ireland — SDR System 2026
NHS dental treatment in Northern Ireland is administered by the Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) and follows the SDR (Statement of Dental Remuneration) itemised fee schedule. This system mirrors the approach used in Scotland and differs from the banded charge model in England and Wales.
Under the SDR model, patients pay 80% of the scheduled fee for each procedure within a course of treatment. The maximum patient contribution per course is capped at £384.00, providing cost certainty for patients requiring extensive dental work.
80%
Of the SDR scheduled fee per procedure
£384.00
Maximum patient payment per course
RQIA
Regulation & Quality Improvement Authority
SDR Patient Contribution Examples — Northern Ireland (May 2026)
The following table illustrates representative SDR scheduled fees and the corresponding 80% patient contribution. These are indicative figures; actual SDR codes and fees are published by the Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) of Northern Ireland.
| Procedure (SDR Code) | SDR Scheduled Fee | Patient Contribution (80%) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Examination (0101) | £17.50 | £14.00 | Per course |
| Scale & Polish (0201) | £23.00 | £18.40 | Per course |
| Amalgam Filling - 1 surface (0301) | £28.00 | £22.40 | Per tooth |
| Composite Filling - anterior (0401) | £35.00 | £28.00 | Per tooth |
| Simple Extraction (0501) | £32.00 | £25.60 | Per tooth |
| Root Canal - anterior (0601) | £98.00 | £78.40 | Per tooth |
Source: HSCB Northern Ireland SDR Schedule (indicative) - Dentaclarity 2026 Aggregated Data
NHS Northern Ireland SDR Patient Contributions - Indicative Examples (May 2026)
- SDR Scheduled Fee
- £17.50
- Patient Contribution (80%)
- £14.00
- Notes
- Per course
- SDR Scheduled Fee
- £23.00
- Patient Contribution (80%)
- £18.40
- Notes
- Per course
- SDR Scheduled Fee
- £28.00
- Patient Contribution (80%)
- £22.40
- Notes
- Per tooth
- SDR Scheduled Fee
- £35.00
- Patient Contribution (80%)
- £28.00
- Notes
- Per tooth
- SDR Scheduled Fee
- £32.00
- Patient Contribution (80%)
- £25.60
- Notes
- Per tooth
- SDR Scheduled Fee
- £98.00
- Patient Contribution (80%)
- £78.40
- Notes
- Per tooth
Source: HSCB Northern Ireland SDR Schedule (indicative) - Dentaclarity 2026 Aggregated Data
How Northern Ireland Differs from England and Wales
The SDR system reflects Northern Ireland's distinct approach to NHS dental remuneration, which aligns with Scotland's itemised model rather than the banded system used in England and Wales. Each procedure carries a scheduled fee, and patients contribute 80% per item within a course of treatment.
From a patient perspective, the SDR model can result in lower costs for simple treatments but higher cumulative costs for complex multi-procedure courses — until the £384 cap is reached. For patients requiring extensive restorative work, the cap provides equivalent protection compared to England's Band 3 charge of £332.10.
Belfast Location Index
Private dental fee index for Belfast. Approximately 2% premium over Northern Ireland national median.