NHS Dental Shortage Forces UK Patients to Pay Hundreds for Private Treatment
Deacon Galloway, 19, from North Yorkshire, was forced to spend nearly £800 of his university savings on private dental work last summer. This cost, for two fillings and two replacement fillings, would have been free under NHS provision for individuals under 19 in full-time education. Galloway stated he felt he had “no choice” but to proceed privately to prevent further deterioration of his dental health.
This case exemplifies a widespread issue as many parts of the UK are now considered ‘dental deserts’ with no available NHS dentists. Data from the General Dental Council indicates that approximately one-third of individuals receiving dental treatment in the UK pay privately, with fewer than a fifth doing so by choice.
Soaring Private Dental Costs and Scrutiny
An analysis by MyTribe Insurance revealed a 23% increase in the average cost of initial private consultations over two years, reaching £80, while simple extractions have risen by 32% to £139. Root canal treatments show wide variation, with prices in some areas reaching £660 against an average of £400. In stark contrast, NHS root canal treatment costs five times less.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has initiated an investigation into the private dentistry sector, examining price increases and how dentists communicate costs and options to patients. Healthwatch England, a patient watchdog, also expressed concerns, highlighting that individuals in deprived and rural areas are particularly affected due to limited NHS access and inability to afford private fees.
The British Dental Association (BDA) acknowledged the predicament, asserting that “millions make a positive decision to go private, but many have felt forced to do so or simply gone without the care they need.” However, the BDA maintains that price rises are justified by high inflation within the sector. Furthermore, the BDA contends that dentists are compelled to “subsidise” NHS work with income from private patients due to inadequate government funding for NHS services. Their submission to the CMA suggests a £1.2 billion shortfall in government funding for NHS dentistry in England.
This financial pressure is reportedly driving a shift towards private work, with a third of practices aiming to increase private provision and over a quarter now operating as private-only. Thea Stein, chief executive of the Nuffield Trust, warned this trend risks “locking people out of care altogether,” particularly during the cost-of-living crisis, and necessitates urgent reform of the “broken NHS system.”
Governments across all four UK nations are purportedly increasing investment and reforming dental contracts, with England planning a complete overhaul of NHS dentistry by 2029. The Department of Health and Social Care emphasised that private dentistry must be held accountable, citing this as the reason for the CMA investigation. A spokesperson stated, “no-one should have to choose between paying their bills and looking after their teeth.”
