Major change to NHS dental costs as common treatment soars to £75 after 2.4% price hike

A TOOTH filling on the NHS will cost more than £75 after a dentists’ price hike at the end of this month.

Ministers are putting charges up by 2.4 per cent for the next financial year.

The price of NHS dental treatment increases every year

It will increase the cost of a basic check-up from £26.80 to £27.40.

A filling, root canal or extraction appointment will cost £75.30, up from £73.50, with more intensive ‘Band 3’ work charged at £326.70, up from £319.10.

Shiv Pabary, of the British Dental Association, said: “This hike is reheated austerity.

“It won’t put a penny into a struggling service.

“Our patients are paying more just so ministers can pay less.

“Rachel Reeves will need to justify her stealth cuts to millions of patients.”

NHS dentistry on its last legs

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has warned NHS dentistry is at death’s door.

Surgeries all over the country have shut their doors to new patients claiming NHS prices.

Some will only accept new child patients if their parents agree to pay for private services.

Private appointments can cost twice as much, with check-ups priced at an average of £74 for a new patient and fillings £124 each, according to Tribe Insurance.

Announcing the NHS price rises, health minister Stephen Kinnock said: “The Government’s ambition is to make sure that everyone who needs a dentist can get one.

“NHS dental patient charges provide an important revenue source for NHS dentistry and are typically uplifted on the 1 April each financial year.

“Dental patients will benefit from the continued provision that this important revenue supports.”

This is the wrong move and won’t improve dental care

Matthew McGregor38 Degrees

The Government has announced plans to try and hire more dentists and pledged 700,000 more appointments per year but experts warn more must be done.

Hundreds of thousands of people have signed petitions calling for better care as horror stories reveal desperate patients have pulled their own teeth.

Matthew McGregor, of campaign website 38 Degrees, said: “Families will be bracing themselves for a health bill hike in this cost of living crisis – if they’re lucky enough to even have an NHS dentist in the first place.

“It’s the wrong move at the wrong time – especially as the extra price tag won’t result in the improvements in dental care so many of us are desperate for.

“Much more is needed to save NHS dentistry.”