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The government has announced plans aimed at enhancing access to NHS dental services in England by prioritising patients who need urgent dental treatment and those requiring complex care. These changes are expected to benefit individuals undergoing multiple treatments for complicated dental issues, potentially reducing their costs by up to £225. Over recent years, many people have struggled to secure appointments with NHS dentists, with certain areas in England being labelled as “dental deserts” due to a complete lack of available NHS dental care.
Health Minister Stephen Kinnock, speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, emphasised that the government’s intention is to focus on urgent dental care. He highlighted that routine dental visits currently account for a considerable amount of NHS dentistry work, describing much of it as “unnecessary routine care.” Kinnock explained that patients with good oral health would likely only need to attend NHS dental appointments once every two years, challenging the common practice of six-monthly check-ups. He stated that the current frequency “is not the right use” of dentists’ time and diverts significant NHS resources.
Since 2006, the NHS dental system has operated on a contract model based on Units of Dental Activity (UDAs), which assigns different values to various procedures such as fillings, extractions, and more complex treatments. Dentists are contracted to perform a certain number of UDAs annually and are compensated according to this model. However, this arrangement has often favoured simple check-ups, which require fewer resources, rather than longer, more comprehensive treatments. Many dentists have argued that the contract does not adequately cover the costs of the care they provide, causing a growing number to leave NHS work altogether. This has contributed to the difficulty patients face when trying to access NHS dental services, especially in regions where no NHS dentists are available.
The government’s proposed reforms include new incentives to encourage dentists to provide extended treatment plans for major dental problems such as tooth decay and gum disease. Currently, patients with severe conditions often must attend multiple appointments over time, which incurs substantial costs and consumes considerable time. The new approach would allow dental practices to offer patients a tailored package of care delivered over an extended period. According to officials, this could save patients up to £225 in treatment fees. However, the British Dental Association’s General Dental Practice Committee Chair, Shiv Pabary, described the situation as a “dental crisis” stemming from the 2006 contract. He warned that without addressing chronic underfunding and systemic issues, reforms would only be minor adjustments to a fundamentally flawed system. Meanwhile, Stephen Kinnock acknowledged the scale of the challenge and confirmed ongoing negotiations with the BDA aimed at a “radical overhaul” of the NHS dentistry contract
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