Ouch! The cost of going to the dentist will rise by 8.5% next month as part of a price hike described by the British Dental Association as ‘downright ugly’
The cost of going to the dentist will rise by the most for a 17-year-old next month as part of a price hike that the British Dental Association has described as “downright ugly”.
NHS dental fees will increase by 8.5 per cent from 24 April, the biggest single jump since the introduction of the current fee system in 2006.
This means that the cost of stuffing will rise by more than £5, from the current £65.20 to £70.70. The price for a basic check-up will rise from £23.80 to £25.80, while more complex ‘Scope 3’ treatments such as crowns or dentures will increase by £24 to £306.80.
Government officials said the increases – the first in more than two years – are needed to meet the rising costs of providing dental care. But the British Dental Association (BDA) has criticized the increases, accusing ministers of prioritizing government money over access to affordable treatment.
And they warned around a million adults refused to see an NHS dentist because of cost last year according to data from the GP survey, with an increase meaning many would “think twice about seeking care”.
The cost of going to the dentist will rise by the most for a 17-year-old next month as part of a price hike that the British Dental Association has described as “downright ugly”. (file photo)
BDA Chairman Sean Charlwood said: “This is an absolutely hideous display of priorities from the Treasury.
This hike will not put a penny into a struggling service. Our patients are simply being told to pay more so that ministers can pay less.
The government did not have to go this route during the cost of living crisis. This is a cold and calculated political choice that will hit millions of people with modest incomes.
Ministers should know that some are faced with choosing between heating and eating and seeking NHS care. And they continue to work regardless.
It comes as millions struggle to see their dentist, with three in ten children now starting school with rotting teeth.
NHS dental fees will increase by 8.5 per cent from 24 April, the single biggest jump since the current fee system was introduced in 2006. (File photo)
Data from the National Dental Epidemiology Program last week showed that 2 per cent of children in England had advanced dental caries, while one in five children (21.2 per cent) had some dental plaque. Meanwhile, the number of dentists doing NHS work in England remains below pre-Covid levels, according to NHS Digital figures.
The health secretary, Neil O’Brien, revealed the parliament hikes yesterday, which were higher than some of the hikes but said they were ‘commensurate’ given the freezes since 2020.
He said, “The last increase was in December 2020, and it was postponed from April 2020 due to the effects of the epidemic. Although there has been no increase for two years, the cost of providing NHS dental care has increased.
He added that exemptions and support for low-income people would remain in place.
It followed the announcement that prescription fees would rise by 30p to £9.65 from April.