Health

Public pressure mounts as NHS dental funding crisis prompts urgent call for reform

Thursday, 13 November 2025 5:04AM UTC

A campaign supporting over 120,000 signatures highlights deepening NHS dental service inequalities in England, demanding immediate government funding reforms amid rising patient needs and access issues.

A significant campaign demanding urgent government action to fund NHS dentistry has gained remarkable public support, with a petition attracting over 120,000 signatures now formally presented to the Department of Health and Social Care. The petition, highlighted by the Daily Mirror in partnership with the British Dental Association (BDA) and the campaigning group 38 Degrees, underscores a deepening crisis in NHS dental services in England, where funding remains stagnant and insufficient to meet public demand.

The total government allocation for NHS dentistry in England has been stuck at approximately £3 billion since 2010. According to the BDA, after adjusting for inflation and population growth, this represents a real-term decrease of over a third in funding. This budget shortfall has led to a situation where only about half of the population can access NHS dental care when needed. Per capita investment in England lags significantly behind devolved regions in the UK, further exacerbating regional inequalities in oral health access.

The crisis has tangible and harrowing impacts on patients. Monica Finlay, a 68-year-old from East London, shared her distressing story of having to extract loose teeth herself after years of being unable to find an NHS dentist. This distress is echoed widely, with surveys indicating a quarter of adults in England live with unmet dental needs, approximately 14 million people. The problem is worsened by the ongoing "flawed" NHS dental contract system, which provides uniform payments per patient regardless of the complexity of treatment needed, discouraging dentists from accepting more NHS patients. The BDA reports that this has driven many dentists into private practice, limiting NHS patient intake.

BDA Chair Eddie Crouch described the current scenario as "horrific Victorian scenes," with queues outside dental practices and families facing impossible choices amid the cost-of-living crisis. “Failure to commit funding here will heap new burdens on hard-pressed families who have no options,” said Crouch. Similarly, Matthew McGregor, CEO of 38 Degrees, emphasised the urgency by stating that without proper funding, millions will continue suffering without affordable, accessible dental care despite government promises and reform plans.

The campaign further highlights rising patient charges as masking real government funding cuts: patient fees have increased above inflation, such as the cost of dentures rising by £128 since 2010, now at £327. This increase is particularly burdensome for lower-income groups and runs counter to the NHS’s founding principle of accessibility for all.

The petition and campaign are part of a broader movement that includes calls for halting planned NHS dental fee hikes scheduled for April 2024 and insist on comprehensive funding reforms instead. Other petitions targeting parliament reinforce these demands, calling for significant investment to enable all patients to access necessary dental care under NHS funding.

With over 120,000 people backing this cause, public pressure is mounting on government ministers to reverse a decade of austerity-driven neglect. The BDA and allied groups argue that reform of the dental contract is necessary but cannot succeed without a meaningful increase in funding. The failure to act risks worsening oral health inequities across England and relegating essential dental care to a luxury that fewer can afford, a scenario reminiscent of the 19th century.

In summary, the campaign lays bare the urgent need for the UK government to prioritise NHS dentistry, both in funding and systemic reforms, to restore equitable access, alleviate patient suffering, and ensure sustainable dental services for the future.

📌 Reference Map:

^[1] (Mirror) - Paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
^[2] (38 Degrees Petition) - Paragraphs 1, 7
^[3] (UK Government Petition) - Paragraph 7
^[4] (NHS Dental Access Petition) - Paragraph 7
^[5] (Dentistry.co.uk Campaign Report) - Paragraphs 1, 4
^[6] (Dentistry.co.uk Petition Report) - Paragraph 3, 6
^[7] (38 Degrees Fee Hike Petition) - Paragraph 7

Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/ashamed-speak-smile-thousands-sign-36236372 - Please view link - unable to able to access data
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/fund-nhs-dentistry-now - This petition, launched by 38 Degrees, calls for immediate and adequate funding for NHS dentistry to ensure that everyone can access essential dental care. The campaign highlights the current crisis in NHS dentistry, where millions struggle to obtain affordable dental services, leading to 'dental deserts' and increased reliance on private care. The petition urges the government to invest in NHS dentistry to make dental care accessible and affordable for all.
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/746148 - This UK government petition advocates for increased funding to NHS-supported dental practices, aiming to ensure that all eligible citizens can access necessary dental procedures under NHS funding. It highlights the national crisis in dental services, emphasizing the need for more NHS dental practices to improve accessibility for patients. The petition underscores the importance of government intervention to address the challenges faced by NHS dental services and to provide equitable dental care to all citizens.
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/625518 - This petition calls for increased funding to ensure that all adults and children have access to a dentist. It addresses the challenges faced by individuals in finding NHS dentists, with many practices not accepting new patients. The petition highlights the need for a review of how dentistry is funded and run, emphasizing the current situation as a disaster and urging the government to take action to improve access to NHS dental services.
https://dentistry.co.uk/2025/09/25/campaign-launched-for-government-to-fully-fund-nhs-dental-reform/ - This article reports on a campaign launched by the British Dental Association (BDA), the Daily Mirror, and campaign group 38 Degrees, calling for the government to fully fund NHS dental reform. The campaign gained nearly 40,000 signatures in just three days, highlighting the urgent need for investment in NHS dentistry. The article discusses the concerns raised by the BDA regarding the lack of new investment to support dental reform and the impact on patient access and practice sustainability.
https://dentistry.co.uk/2025/11/12/more-than-120000-people-demand-better-funding-for-nhs-dentistry/ - This article reports on a petition backed by over 120,000 people, delivered to the Department of Health and Social Care, demanding better funding for NHS dentistry. The campaign highlights the challenges faced by patients in accessing dental care, with 34% of people reporting increased difficulty in obtaining healthcare due to dental fees over the past 12 months. The article features statements from BDA chair Eddie Crouch and 38 Degrees CEO Matthew McGregor, emphasizing the need for government action to address the crisis in NHS dentistry.
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/stop-the-dental-price-hike - This petition, initiated by 38 Degrees, calls for the cancellation of the planned hike in NHS dental fees scheduled for 1 April 2024 and urges the government to develop a proper plan to fund dentistry. The campaign highlights the broken state of NHS dentistry, with millions unable to access treatment and the government proposing fee increases without addressing the underlying funding issues. The petition seeks to prevent the fee hike and calls for a comprehensive plan to fix NHS dentistry.

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 8

Notes: The narrative is current, with the petition reaching over 120,000 signatures as of November 12, 2025. Earlier reports from September 2025 mention a similar campaign with nearly 40,000 signatures, indicating the issue has been ongoing. ([dentistry.co.uk](https://dentistry.co.uk/2025/09/25/campaign-launched-for-government-to-fully-fund-nhs-dental-reform/?utm_source=openai)) The petition is hosted on 38 Degrees, a reputable campaigning platform, suggesting a high freshness score.

Quotes check

Score: 9

Notes: Direct quotes from BDA Chair Eddie Crouch and 38 Degrees CEO Matthew McGregor are consistent with their previous statements, indicating originality. No significant variations in wording were found.

Source reliability

Score: 9

Notes: The narrative originates from the Daily Mirror, a reputable UK newspaper, and is supported by statements from the British Dental Association (BDA) and 38 Degrees, both credible organisations. The petition is hosted on 38 Degrees, a reputable campaigning platform, further supporting the reliability.

Plausability check

Score: 8

Notes: The claims about NHS dental funding shortages and patient access issues are consistent with previous reports, such as the Public Accounts Committee's criticism of NHS dentistry reforms. ([healthbusinessuk.net](https://www.healthbusinessuk.net/news/04042025/pac-slams-nhs-dentistry-reform-comprehensive-failure?utm_source=openai)) The narrative includes specific figures and quotes, enhancing credibility. The language and tone are appropriate for the topic and region.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH

Summary: The narrative is current and original, with consistent quotes and reliable sources. The claims are plausible and supported by previous reports, with appropriate language and tone. No significant credibility risks were identified.

NHS dentistry
funding crisis
public petition