The NHS dentistry service across England is set for a significant transformation aimed at prioritising urgent and complex cases while saving patients money through customised treatment plans. Announced by the government following a consultation on December 16, these changes will come into effect in April 2026.
The reforms incentivise dentists to focus on urgent care for conditions such as tooth trauma, infections, and severe pain, ensuring easier access to NHS dental appointments. For patients requiring complex treatment, the new standardised payment scheme could save them up to £225 on fees.
Currently, patients with multiple dental issues often face several costly and time-consuming appointments. Under the new system, these patients can benefit from a comprehensive, long-term treatment package tailored to their individual needs, which also includes oral health advice.
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Preventative care will also be strengthened. Dental nurses will be encouraged to apply fluoride varnish to children’s teeth to promote oral health, and dental staff will receive fair compensation for applying fissure sealants, aimed at reducing tooth decay among children.
Minister for Care Stephen Kinnock commented, “We inherited a broken NHS dental system and have worked swiftly to begin fixing it—rolling out urgent and emergency appointments and introducing supervised toothbrushing for young children in deprived areas. These reforms tackle deep-rooted challenges, making it easier for patients to get urgent dental care and preventing avoidable hospital admissions.”
He added, “This is about putting patients first and supporting dentists by improving contracts, making the profession more attractive, and providing resources to deliver better care. This marks the beginning of a new era for NHS dentistry after a decade of decline.”
The announcement follows a report from think tank Policy Exchange, which called for £150 annual dental vouchers to eliminate regional disparities in dental care access. Gareth Lyon, head of health and social care at Policy Exchange, highlighted that many people, including millions of children, currently lack NHS dental support. He emphasised the wider health system costs and missed opportunities for early diagnosis of cancers and other diseases due to lack of dental care.
Lyon urged, “It’s time for radical action to save NHS dentistry, abolish the postcode lottery, and create a system that prioritises early treatment and diagnosis, ultimately fixing our national smile.”