Demand for NHS dental care remains high across England, with many patients reporting difficulties securing timely appointments. Delays can allow oral health problems to worsen, increasing the likelihood that treatment becomes more complex and disruptive.
The Department of Health and Social Care, alongside Health Minister Stephen Kinnock MP, announced it is broadening the scope of additional NHS dental appointments so more patients can be seen, beyond the narrow clinical definition of ‘urgent’ care.
The department reported the NHS delivered 1.8 million extra courses of dental treatment over the first seven months of 2025-26 compared with the period in the year up to the general election. The change is intended to support earlier intervention, prevention, and continuity of care, with children and those most in need expected to benefit most.
Government expands access to NHS dental services
The Department of Health and Social Care said it is broadening the scope of additional appointments so more patients can be offered NHS dental care beyond the current narrow definition of ‘urgent’. The department said the change follows advice from England’s Chief Dental Officer and is intended to improve earlier intervention and continuity of care.
The government said the updated approach will allow local health systems to offer appointments that better reflect the needs of their communities. It said the reforms are aimed at prioritising those with the greatest need, including children and patients with serious oral health issues.
- Broader appointment scope to widen access
- Focus on earlier intervention and prevention
- Local decision-making through Integrated Care Boards
Millions of additional treatments already delivered
The Department of Health and Social Care said new figures show the NHS delivered 1.8 million additional courses of dental treatment over the first seven months of 2025-26, compared with the period in the year up to the general election. It said the results indicate the government is on track to deliver millions more dental appointments this year.
The department said it has pledged to deliver 700,000 extra urgent dental appointments and that Integrated Care Boards have commissioned nearly one million appointments in line with that commitment. It said the broader scope is expected to support further increases in appointments delivered.
Activity and commissioning update
| Additional NHS treatment activity | 1.8 million extra courses of dental treatment delivered in the first seven months of 2025-26, compared with the period in the year up to the general election |
| Government urgent appointments commitment | 700,000 extra urgent dental appointments pledged |
| Appointments commissioned by ICBs | Nearly one million appointments commissioned in line with the urgent appointments commitment |
Changes to urgent care rules and patient eligibility
The Chief Dental Officer said the scope of the additional urgent appointments was too narrow because it limited access to cases meeting the clinical definition of ‘urgent’. The Department of Health and Social Care said this meant some patients with serious oral health problems could not qualify under the existing approach.
The department said conditions such as tooth decay or rotting teeth would not automatically be eligible for an urgent appointment under the previous definition. It also cited reports of some patients attempting “DIY dentistry” due to a lack of access to care.
The Department of Health and Social Care said the broadened scope will now include all dental appointments, not only those fitting the narrow urgent definition. It said this will help more patients access the care they need before problems escalate.
Role of Integrated Care Boards and local delivery
The Department of Health and Social Care said Integrated Care Boards will be able to offer more dental care for more patients by broadening the scope to include all appointments. It said all ICBs are required to provide accessible urgent care and have been commissioning additional urgent care capacity since April.
The department said local areas will have the power to determine what dental appointments best meet the needs of their communities. It added that ICBs may be able to repurpose or recommission services where needed to improve access.
- Commissioning decisions tailored locally
- Capacity can be repurposed where needed
- Urgent care remains a required service
New requirements for high street dentists from April 2026
The Department of Health and Social Care said that from April 2026, high street dentists will be required to offer a minimum number of urgent or unscheduled appointments. It said this could include patients who are new to the practice and is intended to further improve access to NHS dentistry.
The department presented the change as part of a wider package to improve availability and ensure more people can be seen when they need care. It said the measures are focused on patients who have struggled to secure appointments under current arrangements.
Appointment access measures
| Broadened scope of additional appointments | Expanded to include all dental appointments, not only those meeting a narrow ‘urgent’ definition |
| High street dentist requirement | From April 2026, practices required to provide a minimum number of urgent or unscheduled appointments |
| Eligibility impact | May include patients new to a practice and those with serious oral health issues not previously covered by urgent criteria |
Prevention measures and long-term reform plans
The Department of Health and Social Care said the announcement sits alongside reforms to the dental contract and a wider push to prioritise prevention. It highlighted a national supervised toothbrushing programme for 3 to 5 year olds, which it said will support up to 600,000 children this year.
The department said over 4 million toothbrushes and toothpastes have already been delivered as part of the programme. It also referenced community water fluoridation schemes, which it said are proven to reduce tooth decay.
The government said through its 10 Year Health Plan it is aiming to make dentistry fit for the future by reforming the dental contract and shifting care from sickness to prevention. It said the approach includes boosting the number of dentists through contract reform.
Stakeholder Comments
Ministerial Comments
Stephen Kinnock, Minister for Health said;
“Nobody should be pushed to such a state of desperation that they’re forced to pull their own teeth out, but there are far too many cases of this happening and it’s totally unacceptable. The idea that a patient in this terrible position may not qualify for an ‘urgent’ appointment is clearly nonsensical, so we’re acting to rectify this absurd situation.”
“Thanks to the changes we’re making millions more appointments will be delivered this year, with children and those in the greatest need benefiting most. After more than a decade of decline, we’re putting NHS dentistry on the road to recovery.”
Jason Wong, Chief Dental Officer for England said;
“Widening access to include other oral health care beyond urgent care means more patients will be seen quickly and get the care they need before problems escalate. By working closely with government and the dental sector to bring in these changes, we are delivering on the manifesto commitment to make prevention a priority and helping people maintain good oral health.”
Neil Carmichael, Association of Dental Groups Executive Chair said;
“The progress made in the delivery of dental appointments is fantastic to hear. The Association of Dental Groups has been aware since the announcement of the 700,000 urgent appointments that some patients have been struggling to understand what was meant by the definition of ‘urgent treatment’, so these efforts to provide clarification will be welcomed by our members.”
“We need to come together now as a profession to support this intervention to succeed, and the ADG recommends that Integrated Care Boards should act quickly now to implement these changes in their local areas, so patients benefit. We must also address the issue that we will not meet patients’ needs until we increase the dental workforce. Currently the gap in our dental teams is massive.”
Shiv Pabary, Chair of the British Dental Association’s General Dental Practice Committee said;
“This uptick in activity is progress, and reflects the commitment of thousands of dentists who have continued to deliver NHS care against all odds. But millions are still going without care. After years of savage cuts, ending this crisis will hinge on promised reform being backed by sustainable funding. The Government must build on this progress with urgency and ambition. To give NHS dentistry a future, we need a response proportionate to the challenges we face.”
Closing Thoughts
The Department of Health and Social Care said broadening the scope of additional appointments is intended to help more patients access NHS dental care earlier and prevent problems from escalating.
The government said the change will support local commissioning decisions by Integrated Care Boards while maintaining requirements for accessible urgent care. It also linked the announcement to longer-term reforms, including contract changes and prevention programmes focused on children and population oral health.
Sources: Department of Health and Social Care and Stephen Kinnock MP.
Prepared by Ivan Alexander Golden, Founder of THX News, an independent news organisation delivering timely insights from global official sources. Combines AI-analysed research with human-edited accuracy and context.
