Key facts
- Patients are increasingly forced to pay for private dental care due to a shortage of NHS dentists.
- Private dental treatment costs have risen significantly, with initial consultations up 23% and simple extractions up 32% in two years.
- Many patients are dipping into savings or taking out loans to afford private dental work.
- The British Dental Association suggests a funding shortfall in NHS dentistry is driving practices towards private work.
- The Competition and Markets Authority is investigating the private dental market for potential exploitation and price rises.
The UK is facing a significant shortage of NHS dentists, forcing many individuals to seek private treatment, often at considerable expense. Deacon Galloway, a 19-year-old university student, had to spend nearly £800 of his savings on dental work because he could not find an NHS dentist near his home in North Yorkshire. This treatment would have been free under the NHS as he was under 19 and in full-time education.
Analysis by MyTribe Insurance reveals a sharp increase in private dental costs over the past two years, with initial consultations rising by 23% to an average of £80 and simple extractions increasing by 32% to £139. Root canal treatments can cost up to £660 privately, a stark contrast to the approximately £130 charged for NHS treatment.
This situation is pushing many to dip into savings or take out loans. Sophie Bingham, a mother-of-one, found herself paying for private dental check-ups and a filling despite being entitled to free NHS care during pregnancy due to a maternity exemption certificate not being accepted at private practices. She expressed frustration at having to spend money that could have gone towards her daughter.
The British Dental Association (BDA) acknowledges that many patients feel forced into private care or go without necessary treatment. BDA chair Eddie Crouch suggested that rising private costs are partly due to dentists needing to subsidize NHS work because of insufficient government funding. The BDA estimates a £1.2bn shortfall in NHS dentistry funding in England, leading a third of practices to increase private work and over a quarter to become private-only.
Concerns about the affordability and accessibility of dental care are being examined by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which is investigating potential exploitation and price rises in the private sector. Healthwatch England also noted patient concerns about the high cost of private dentistry, particularly affecting those in deprived and rural areas.
Governments across the UK are attempting to address the issue by increasing investment in NHS dentistry and reforming contracts. England's Department of Health and Social Care stated that private dentistry must also be held accountable, supporting the CMA's investigation. A spokesperson emphasized that no one should have to choose between paying bills and dental health amidst the cost of living crisis.