Patients forced to grit their teeth over price hike

Southport dental patients are now paying an extra £1.10 for routine check-ups after a ‘tax on teeth’ price hike came into force.

The government brought in the 5% rise at the start of this month, meaning the cost of an NHS dental check-up is now £22.70.

The move has been criticised by Sefton Central MP Bill Esterson, who claims it might put people off going to the dentist.
The British Dental Association (BDA) said the government had slashed state spending in NHS dentistry and that charges had become a ‘proxy for state investment’.

MP Esterson said: “This is no more than a tax on teeth and is a result of huge cuts to the NHS dentistry budget which has pushed the cost onto patients.

“Price rises are not in the interests of patients or dentists, as it will only dissuade some people from having routine treatment, which could lead to far worse problems being stored up for the future.

An increase in emergency treatment could end up costing the NHS more.