Ouch! The cost of going to the dentist is set to rise 8.5% next month as part of price hikes labeled ‘extremely grotesque’ by the British Dental Association
The cost of going to a dentist is set to rise next month by the largest amount in 17 years as part of price hikes labeled ‘utterly grotesque’ by the British Dental Association.
NHS dental costs will rise by 8.5 per cent from April 24, the biggest jump since the current cost system was introduced in 2006.
This means the cost of a refill will increase more than £5 from the current £65.20 to £70.70. The price of a basic checkup will rise from £23.80 to £25.80, while more complicated ‘band 3’ treatments such as crowns or dentures will rise by £24 to £306.80.
Government officials said the increases – the first in more than two years – are necessary to cover the increased cost of providing dental care. But the British Dental Association (BDA) hit the increases, accusing ministers of prioritizing public money over access to affordable treatment.
According to GP survey data, around a million adults refused to visit an NHS dentist last year because of cost, and the increase means many more will “think twice about seeking care,” they warned.
The cost of going to a dentist is set to rise next month by the largest amount in 17 years as part of price hikes labeled ‘utterly grotesque’ by the British Dental Association. [File image]
BDA Chairman Shawn Charlwood said: ‘This is an utterly grotesque display of Treasury priorities.
“This walk won’t put a penny into a struggling service. Our patients are being asked to pay more simply, so that ministers can pay less.
“The government didn’t have to go down this path during a cost-of-living crisis. This is a cold, calculated political choice that will affect millions of modest incomes.
Ministers should know that some are faced with a choice between warming up, eating and seeking NHS care. And they continue anyway.’
It comes as millions of people struggle to see their dentist, with three in 10 children now going to school with rotten teeth.
NHS dental costs will rise by 8.5 per cent from April 24, the biggest jump since the current cost system was introduced in 2006. [File image]
Data from the National Dental Epidemiology Program last week showed that 2 percent of children in England have advanced tooth decay, while one in five (21.2 percent) children had some plaque. Meanwhile, the number of dentists doing NHS work in England remains below pre-Covid levels, according to figures from NHS Digital.
Health Minister Neil O’Brien revealed the increases in parliament yesterday, acknowledging that it was higher than some increases, but said it was “proportional” given the freeze since 2020.
He said: ‘The most recent increase was in December 2020, delayed from April 2020 due to the impact of the pandemic. Although there has been no increase for two years, the cost of providing NHS dental care has risen.’
Exemptions and support for low-income earners will still apply, he added.
It follows the announcement that prescription costs will increase by 30p from April to £9.65.