Introduction to NHS Dental Care Plans
People in need of urgent dental treatment and patients requiring complex care will be prioritized as part of Government plans to improve access to NHS dentists in England. The proposals could mean a saving of £225 for patients who require numerous appointments for complicated treatments. For years, it has become increasingly difficult for many patients to find a dentist, with some towns in England described as “dental deserts” and having no access to NHS dentists at all.
Current State of NHS Dentistry
The British Dental Association (BDA) said the plans would not solve current problems without more funding and real reform. Health Minister stated that the plans aimed to "prioritize" urgent care, adding that there was currently “a lot of unnecessary routine care going on” in NHS dental services. If a patient has “good oral health,” they do not need to visit the dentist “more than about every two years.” The current practice of offering most patients NHS check-ups every six months was deemed "not the right use" of dentists’ time, consuming a lot of money in NHS dentistry.
The Current System
Under the current system, which dates back to 2006, dentists are paid based on units of dental activity, known as UDAs. Different procedures – fillings, extractions, and more complicated work – are assigned a different number of UDAs. Dentists providing NHS services have a contract that sets out how many UDAs they will carry out each year and are paid accordingly. However, this has resulted in dentists having more money to carry out simple check-ups instead of spending longer dealing with patients who required more complex and time-consuming care.
Chronic Underfunding
For years, dentists have complained that the contract for NHS work does not cover the cost of the services they are given. As a result, many dentists have withdrawn from NHS work, meaning it is becoming increasingly difficult for people to access healthcare. There are parts of the country where there is simply no access to NHS dentistry.
Proposed Changes
Under the government plans, there would be new incentives for dentists to offer longer-term treatments for serious problems such as gum disease and tooth decay on the NHS. Currently, a patient with multiple tooth decay or severe gum disease – both of which require complex treatment – would need to be treated in multiple appointments, which is costly and time-consuming. But under proposed changes to the dental contract for NHS work, dental practices would be able to offer patients a single comprehensive treatment package tailored to their needs over a longer period of time. And ministers argue it could save a patient up to £225 in fees.
Response from the BDA
The chairman of the BDA’s General Dental Practice Committee said "a dental crisis" had arisen as a direct result of the 2006 contract. “The reforms announced today seek to improve a broken system.” He added that NHS dentistry would continue to fail for “dentists and patients” until “chronic underfunding” and wider systemic problems were addressed. “It will be a tremendous challenge to provide comprehensive care with the same budget we currently have.” The Government has a “massive problem to solve” in dental care and is negotiating a “radical overhaul” of the NHS dental contract with the BDA.
