Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to ensure better availability of dental healthcare for poorer citizens.

Access to National Health Service dentistry is improving. For the 24 months ending 30 June 2017 22.2 million adults were seen, an increase of almost 19,000 over the same period in the previous year and for the 12 months ending 30 June 2017, 6.8 million children were seen by an NHS dentist an increase of almost 8,000 over the same period the previous year. NHS England has a legal duty to commission primary care NHS dental services to meet local needs and to help patients who cannot find a local dentist taking on new patients for NHS care. Patients in this situation can contact NHS England’s Customer Contact Centre for assistance.

NHS patient charges are capped to try to avoid cost being a deterrent for those who have to pay a charge.

All those under the age of 18 (or under 19 and in full time education), who are pregnant or gave birth in the last 12 months, as well as those on specified benefits are exempt from charges and receive free NHS dental treatment. For those not qualifying for exemption but on a low income there may still be full or partial help through the NHS Low Income Scheme. All dental practices holding an NHS contract are required to display a poster, provided free of charge, setting out current NHS Charges and highlighting that patients may be exempt from or entitled to help with charges. The Department also provides all such practices with a patient leaflet setting out patient entitlements in more detail. This information is also available on NHS Choices.