British Dental Association

The responsibility - or lack thereof - rests with Rachel Reeves and HMT.

Millions make a positive choice to go private.

Those left without options, who have felt forced to go private, are there entirely because of choices made by the Treasury.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/mar/09/nhs-dental-crisis-private-dentist-patient-incease-england

It isn't 'abuse' when practices reflect the mounting costs of delivering dental care in their private fees.

But when it comes to chronically underfunding a service millions depend on, Government might just meet the definition

Our letter to the editor of @thetimes.com

📈Women now make up the majority of registered dentists in the UK.

♀️♂️But gender equality is more than just a numbers game.

🧱We’re committed to taking down the barriers that can hold women back in dentistry.

Happy International Women's Day. #IWD2026

The Government is attempting to use this inquiry to pretend it is improving access and putting money back into voters’ pockets without spending a penny.

We intend to spell out the facts. We will help to show the CMA how private dentistry works.

www.bda.org/news-and-opi...

This was never about lack of demand.

Underfunded practices are struggling to meet punishing targets.

We have dentists losing money delivering NHS care.

It might suit the Treasury but no healthcare professional can be expected to work this way.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cpqwwvnp7z8o

But the reality is underspends have vanished - and the access crisis is still with us.

The last excuse for austerity in NHS dentistry has left the building.

Congratulations @sharonhodgsonmp.bsky.social, new Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Prevention.

As dentists we believe in putting prevention first.

We are committed to work with you to see that principle put into practice.

Action was trailed to the press...

But today's Spring Statement offered not a single a word on reform of Plan 2 loans, that have left a generation of our members drowning in debt.

https://www.bda.org/news-and-opinion/news/inaction-leaves-young-dentists-drowning-in-debt/

“Chairside tests for chronic diseases are a golden opportunity for patients, that will remain unrealised until we see real commitment to rebuild this service," says @/eddiecrouch.bsky.social

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/diabetes-dentist-chairside-test-gum-disease-b2930374.html

A generation of dentists are now facing debts many will never repay.

Read our open letter to Bridget Phillipson and Wes Streeting on why we need urgent reform of Plan 2 loans.

https://www.bda.org/news-and-opinion/news/dental-graduates-left-drowning-in-debt-need-lifeline/

Thanks @helenmorganlibdem.bsky.social

Manifesto promises don't provide care for desperate patients.

That requires decent contracts, sustainably funded.

We're still waiting.

As are the nearly 14 million adults struggling to access NHS dentistry.

Compare and contrast...

Savage cuts have left NHS dentistry hanging off its hinges.

Double standards on funding mean promised reforms may well fail.

Without needed investment we will see practices struggling to remain viable, and millions unable to access the care they need.

.@natalie-fleet-mp.bsky.social is right to highlight the real world impact of the cuts to NHS dental services.

✂️Slashing budgets by 1/3 led to a dramatic decline in adult oral health under the last Government.

📈Without adequate investment, oral health inequalities will keep widening.

Thanks @adrianramsay.bsky.social

Despite the commitment of 1000s of dentists who have continued to deliver NHS care against all odds, millions are still going without care.

After years of savage cuts, ending this crisis will hinge on promised reform being backed by sustainable funding.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿Are you are a General Dental Practitioner in Wales?

Then we need to hear from you.

👉 https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/makeorbreak

Thanks @libdems.org.uk and @helenmorganlibdem.bsky.social

From think tanks to select committees, it’s very clear to everyone that’s looked at what’s really fuelling this crisis that fundamental reform must go hand in hand with sustainable funding.

It’s not an either/or.

@thebda.bsky.social

❗But happy enough to leave oral health at risk?!

📈Yes, prescription charges have been frozen, but dental charges continue to rise.

📉It's a stealth tax. Patients pay more just so ministers can pay less.

💷And there's no sign of the sustainable funding needed to give NHS dentistry a future.

These horrific statistics are a badge of dishonour for governments past and present. Supervised brushing is important progress, but Ministers need to invest in restoring access to care.

Tooth decay is a preventable disease:

📈But 33,976 children underwent extractions a result last year.

💷At a cost of £51.2m.

🦷Ministers need to double down on prevention, and restoring access to millions.

🧒We can’t nip problems in the bud if we don’t get to see these kids.

What the evidence really says on 🇬🇧 British teeth vs the 🇺🇸 Hollywood Smile…

US 'experts' have described oral health in Britain as 'Third World'.

📈Yes, inequalities are widening.

🇺🇸But in the US working age adults are missing more teeth.

🇬🇧The UK Govt will decide whether we end up becoming an Austin Powers cliché.

Our letter to the editor of @thetimes.com

"They looked good until they started to bleed and hurt," says Jack.

He then discovered his teeth were in dreadful condition and repairs would set him back £20,000.

With dental tourism patients need to understand the risks

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/i-spent-3k-turkey-teeth-36710713

‼️ Update: At the time of writing the Welsh Government have failed to keep to their own timetable to publish the model NHS dental contract.

This is inexcusable.

This profession deserves and demands clarity.

Many people are struggling to access care and may be tempted to go overseas for cut-price treatment.

Patients need to understand the risks.

The reality of dental tourism is rarely as simple as it appears on Instagram.

https://www.lbc.co.uk/article/flesh-eating-virus-turkey-teeth-5HjdSJr_2/

It's either callousness or incompetence.

Welsh Govt will be giving dentists the weekend to review the small print of a new contract.

Patients will pay the price for the snap decisions they’ve forced on this profession. https://www.bda.org/news-and-opinion/news/wales-callousness-or-incompetence/

🦷Why is it so hard to find an NHS dentist?

📻A must-listen state of the nation.

🎤Answers from by BDA Chair @eddiecrouch.bsky.social, Consultant Tom Thayer and @dentalhealthorg.bsky.social's Rachael England on BBC R4 Inside Health.

👉 https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002r3nn

"Create a caricature of an NHS dentist based on everything you know about the role..."

Undervalued.

Overstretched.

We've spelled out to the facts time and again.

Government needs to show it's ready to act on them.

"It's a stupid system," says @eddiecrouch.bsky.social

An inflexible contract means that if a practice has capacity - while others in the area are actually reducing NHS work - that funding can't be kept on the frontline. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd7z7x0w95go