The Government has unveiled the planned changes to NHS dentistry in a new consultation
The NHS dental system is set for a major overhaul aimed at enhancing urgent care, safeguarding children’s oral health and introducing new specialised treatments. The Government has kicked off a public consultation on revamping NHS dental contracts, inviting feedback on the proposed changes to the sector.
The proposed reforms are designed to provide easier access to urgent dental care, improve support for patients with complex needs, and ensure children’s teeth are better protected. All while supporting the dedicated professionals in the field.
This announcement comes against a backdrop of plummeting satisfaction rates with NHS dentistry. Over a quarter of adults report difficulties in accessing dental services, according to the British Dental Association.
One key aspect of the reform is the restructuring of incentives for dentists, encouraging them to take on more complex or extensive treatments such as crowns, bridges, and dentures which currently may not be cost-effective. Patients suffering from severe gum disease or those with at least five decayed teeth will be eligible for a “new, special course of treatment”, alongside increased funding for adjustments to dentures.
Additionally, children with a history of tooth decay will benefit from “robust preventative measures,” including resin sealants and fluoride varnish applications. The aim is to address the concerning 22.4% of five-year-old schoolchildren suffering from obvious dental decay, which is also the top cause of hospital admissions among children aged five to nine.
To tackle this health crisis, dentists will now have to offer a certain number of emergency appointments annually. Additionally, newly qualified dentists will be mandated to serve in the NHS for at least three years, contributing to the Labour Party’s pledge to provide 700,000 more urgent dental slots.
Health Minister Stephen Kinnock commented: “We inherited a broken NHS dental system that is in crisis. We have already started fixing this, rolling out 700,000 urgent and emergency appointments and bringing in supervising toothbrushing for 3-5 year olds in the most deprived areas of the country.
“But to get us to a place where patients feel NHS dentistry is reliable again, we have to tackle the problems in the system at their root. These reforms will bring common sense into the system again, attracting more NHS dentists, treating those with the greatest need first, and changing the system to make it work.”
These reform efforts aim to improve patient access to both urgent and preventative dental care. The public has been invited to share their views on these proposals through a consultation process lasting six weeks, with the deadline set for August 19 to collect final feedback.
The government is calling on health care professionals, academics, employers, stakeholders and the public to share their views on the proposed dentistry reform. It’s important to note that respondents must be aged 16 or over and residing in England as these proposals will only impact dentistry in England.