Patients foot the bill for cuts as NHS dental charges rise 45% in a decade

A patient is treated at an NHS dental clinic in London; many of people across Britain are struggling to obtain access to dental care. Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA

Patients are paying for “stealth cuts” in England’s dental budget, with NHS charges for treatment increasing by around 45% in the past decade while government spending has been cut in real terms, a new analysis reveals.

Increases of 4% on NHS dental fees will be implemented next month, with patients now footing the bill for about a quarter of the £3bn dental budget.