Britain's dental crisis is becoming a licence to print money for some private practices, with desperate patients left facing huge bills simply because they cannot get NHS care. Those in need of care are being hit with costs spiralling by thousands of pounds after failed treatment, pressured into extra procedures and, in some cases, left too frightened to complain in case they lose access to a dentist altogether.
Costs soar after failed treatment
One man saw a £3,400 bill soar beyond £10,000 after repeated failed treatment. That is an appalling imbalance of power, according to the Mirror's Voice of the Mirror column.
Private dentists are entitled to charge a fair fee for their expertise. Patients are equally entitled to clear prices, competent treatment and a proper complaints system when things go wrong.
Deeper scandal behind the crisis
The deeper scandal is that so many people are being pushed into private care because NHS dentistry has been allowed to collapse. The Mirror's Dentists for All campaign demands better.
Ministers must rebuild NHS dentistry and protect patients from exploitation. Nobody in pain should be treated like a captive customer.
