How soaring fees for private care are deepening England’s dentistry crisis

The average cost of private non-surgical treatments has risen by as much as 32% in two years. Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA

The inability of millions of patients to access an NHS dentist is one of the longest-running injustices in the history of the health service. The misery and the harm it causes is profound and well documented. The scandal is not new.

Going private is often the only alternative. If it means getting a checkup, a scale and polish, a filling, an extraction or if necessary a root canal, many will pay. Anything to keep your teeth in good nick.