Comment: Why scrapping NHS dental costs wonāt make difference to care Published on: 2 December 2019 Writing for The Conversation, experts discuss why the introduction of free dental check-ups wonāt make much difference to the UKās oral health crisis. , ; , ; , , and , The Labour Party announced as part of their general election manifesto that it will introduce in a bid to encourage people to seek dental care and reduce pressures placed on GPs and A&E departments. The proposal to remove all band one charges for NHS dental care will mean the public will be entitled to a free dental check up, X-rays, scale and polish. At the moment most (or nearly all) patients do not get these services without incurring a cost ā though children and pregnant women already qualify for free dental treatment under the NHS. The introduction of free dental check-ups is undoubtedly a step in the right direction towards reducing barriers to accessing . But unfortunately, the decisions people make regarding whether to see a dentist or not are not this simple. Itās certainly not all about the cost of treatment ā and this is something the next government will need to address if they are to tackle the UKās oral health crisis. Read more: , dating as far back as the 1980s has shown the barriers and decision making behind seeking dental care is a complex area and has a huge impact on services. , the availability of dentists, bad experiences in the past, a confusing NHS dental care system, work and other life priorities are just some of the reasons why people avoid seeking dental care. And above all that, research shows that a lack of perceived need for dental care plays a prominent role in for a check up. You wouldnāt go and see a GP if we werenāt feeling unwell, so why would seeing a dentist be any different? For some people, dental pain has to be present ā often for a ā before they will even begin to consider getting help. āFree teeth MOTā All this together means that offering someone who is dentally anxious, and not experiencing any current dental pain a free check-up is highly unlikely to result in them seeking care. Equally a free dental check up to someone working long hours, balancing family life alongside work, with no local NHS dentists available simply wonāt be enough. The Labour Party quote that āaround 135,000 patients per year are estimated to attend A&E with dental problemsā. This is a figure we conducted at Ā鶹“«Ć½ and shows the scale of the problem with dental care. Dental phobia can run in families. has also found that āaround 380,000 patients with toothache chose to head to their GPs who cannot provide dental treatmentā. The reasons why people try to get dental care from non-dental professionals, such as GPs, is more complicated than just avoiding a dental charge. Indeed, it relates to knowledge about dental symptoms and healthcare services, and the . Oral health crisis to Labourās proposal, that ādental check-ups are already free for those who donāt have the means to payā, also doesnāt solve the problem and shows a lack of understanding. Indeed, many who are eligible for free dental care do not realise that they are. Or donāt claim free treatment at the fear of being fined. If any of the parties wish to fully address the ongoing oral health crisis then simplistic changes, such as a free check-up, wonāt suffice. The British Dental Association have produced on what the next government needs to change regarding dental care, including improvements with dental workforce, current NHS contracts, dental regulation, national campaigns and investment in high quality national research. Although arguably even more needs to be done to overcome the range of complicated barriers the public face when seeking dental care. A free dental check-up may be the first part of this complex jigsaw, but itās certainly not enough. , Clinical Fellow, ; , Senior Lecturer in the School of Dental Sciences, ; , Head of school, Professor of Orofacial Pain, Hon Consultant Oral Surgeon, , and , Senior Clinical Lecturer/Honorary Consultant in Restorative Dentistry (Endodontics), This article is republished from under a Creative Commons license. Read the . Latest News Local knowledge can improve early warnings of glacial lake floods Local knowledge, improved evacuation preparedness and resilient mobile phone-based communication channels can enhance Early Warning Systems to reduce loss of life during glacial lake outburst floods. published on: 3 August 2026 Funding boost moves landmark cancer research centre a step closer A Ā£1.25 million grant from the Wolfson Foundation to Ā鶹“«Ć½ has brought the Sir Bobby Robson Institute a significant step closer, giving a major boost to its fundraising campaign. published on: 3 August 2026 Statement on potential unauthorised data access Information about a potential unauthorised data access. published on: 30 July 2026 Facts and figures
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