Summary
Dentists in England will prioritize urgent dental care to help patients access essential treatments. This change aims to save patients up to £225 on complex procedures by reorganizing the current dental care system. The government is working with dentists to address funding issues and improve the NHS dental service.
Key Facts
- The government plans to prioritize urgent and complex dental care for patients in England.
- Patients may save up to £225 for complex treatments under these new plans.
- Some areas in England are called "dental deserts" because they lack access to NHS dentists.
- The British Dental Association says more funding and reform are needed for these plans to work.
- Currently, patients get routine NHS dental check-ups every six months, which the government considers unnecessary for those with good oral health.
- NHS dentists are paid based on Units of Dental Activity (UDAs), a system established in 2006.
- The government wants to encourage dentists to provide comprehensive, long-term treatments for major dental issues.
- The current NHS dental contract has led many dentists to stop offering NHS services due to inadequate funding.
