The government has unveiled a series of changes to NHS dentistry in England, promising it will mark the beginning of a 'new era' for a service plagued by widespread access problems. Central to the plan is a move to pay dentists more for providing emergency and complex treatments, with the aim of making it easier for patients to get urgent care.
What the New Dental Plan Involves
From April next year, a standardised payment package will be introduced to incentivise dentists to take on more NHS work for urgent cases. This is designed to tackle a core issue: many dental practices have reduced or stopped NHS services because the existing fees often fail to cover their costs.
The new system will encourage dentists to offer appointments for patients with severe pain, infections, or dental trauma. Furthermore, those requiring complex care, such as treatment for advanced gum disease, will be able to access a single, bundled package of treatment rather than having it spread across multiple visits. The government claims this could save patients around £225.
A Crisis of Access and 'DIY Dentistry'
The reforms come against a backdrop of a severe crisis in NHS dental care. Millions across England struggle to find an NHS dentist, leading to the creation of 'dental deserts' where no local practices are taking on new patients. A damning report from the patient watchdog Healthwatch England, published recently, found people in need of emergency care were being turned away, with some resorting to pulling out their own teeth.
Official statistics underscore the scale of the problem. The latest adult oral health survey shows that 41% of people have obvious tooth decay, a level not seen since the late 1990s.
Mixed Reactions from the Dental Profession
While Health Minister Stephen Kinnock hailed the changes as "the first step towards a new era for NHS dentistry after a decade of decline," the profession's response has been sceptical. The British Dental Association (BDA) was quick to point out that the offer "has no new money behind it."
Shiv Pabary, chair of the BDA's general dental practice committee, described the plan as the "biggest tweaks this failed contract has seen in its history." He added that while the changes might help in the short term, a far more substantial and funded reform is needed for a sustainable future.
Chris McCann, deputy chief executive of Healthwatch England, welcomed the focus on urgent care but cautioned that short-term tweaks have repeatedly failed. He called for transparent reporting on the government's pledge to deliver 700,000 new urgent dental appointments and details of a longer-term, fundamental contract overhaul to restore public confidence.
