With dental charges set to rise again this April, new analysis shows that had past governments linked hikes in dental patient charges to increases in state spending, England would by now have the basis for universal access to NHS dental care.
The NHS dental budget has remained static at around £3bn since the Coalition Government came to power, although charges have increased in all but 2 years from 2010/11 to 2025/26, many of which were inflation-busting increases. Come April, patient charges will be almost two thirds higher than they were back in 2010. Had Government contributions increased at the same margin, dentist leaders say the total budget would now be close to £4.5bn, a level that could address the recruitment and retention crises in NHS dentistry and provide a basis for eliminating unmet need for care. [1]
The professional body has accused the Treasury of presiding over a long-term strategy of stealth cuts, by using hikes in charges to conceal reductions in state spending. It warns Rachel Reeves needs to drop the George Osborne playbook if NHS dentistry is going to have a future.
The BDA stress pressure from the Treasury is the reason why a Band 3 treatment like dentures or a crown will cost £326.70 from April, or over £128.70 more than they did in 2010. [2] While Wales introduced record-breaking increases in charge levels last year, the cost of identical treatments is still £66.70 less there for a Band 3, at just £260.
Unlike GPs, there has been no progress to insulate NHS dental practices from increases in the National Minimum Wage and National Insurance or to meaningfully expand access to care. The Government’s pledge of 700,000 urgent appointments is being paid for by recycling underspends in the existing budget, which are fuelled by ongoing recruitment and retention challenges. BDA analysis has shown a generation of austerity means a typical practice now loses over £40 delivering a set of NHS dentures. [3]
Labour has pledged reform of the failed contract fuelling this crisis. The BDA say meaningful reform must go hand in hand with sustainable investment.
A petition calling on the Chancellor and Health Secretary to drop the hike and put in place sustainable funding for NHS dentistry has already hit 40,000 signatures. Over 1/4 million signed a petition delivered in January calling on the PM to save the service.
Shiv Pabary, Chair of the British Dental Association’s General Dental Practice Committee, said: “Had past Governments increased funding at the same rate they ramped up charges, there would be an extra £1.5bn in the pot, and a basis for universal access. Chancellors may claim ‘we are all in this together’, but this is the reality for NHS dentistry. If this service is going to have a future, Rachel Reeves needs to put down George Osborne’s playbook.”
Matthew McGregor, Chief Executive at 38 Degrees, said: “This is simply further proof that instead of hiking dental prices for struggling families, the Government needs a proper plan to fix NHS dentistry, and to stump up the investment to make it a reality.
“The government may have inherited this mess, but it is now their responsibility to fix – which is why hundreds of thousands of members of the public have joined the campaign to save NHS dentistry. It’s time for urgent action from government ministers.”
References
[1] BDA analysis of DHSC accounts 2010-present*
*DHSC accounts for 2024/25 and 2025/26 are not finalised, assuming 2022/23 levels as conservative estimate.
[2] Dental charge levels in England, 2010-present
[3] NHS dentistry: Treasury now no.1 roadblock to saving service
