Dental Services
(asked on 18th May 2026) - View Source
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of the NHS providing free detail repairs for teeth damaged by seizures.
We recognise that certain groups of patients may be more vulnerable to oral health problems and may find it difficult to access dental care. Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for assessing the needs of their population and ensuring that the relevant dental services are available.
Free National Health Service dental care is available to people who are: under 18 years old, or under 19 years old and in full-time education; pregnant or have had a baby in the previous 12 months; being treated in an NHS hospital and treatment is carried out by the hospital dentist, keeping in mind that patients may have to pay for any dentures or bridges; and receiving low-income benefits, or under 20 years old and a dependant of someone receiving low-income benefits.
Support is also available through the NHS Low Income Scheme for those patients who are not eligible for exemption or full remission. Further information is available at the following link:
https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/dental-costs/get-help-with-dental-costs/
1.8 million additional courses of NHS dental treatment were delivered in the seven months between April and October 2025 compared to the corresponding months prior to the 2024 General Election, nearly half of which were delivered to children.
From April 2026, we began introducing a package of reforms to address some of the pressing issues that dental teams have been experiencing. These reforms will prioritise those with the greatest need, shifting care away from clinically unnecessary check-ups.
We are also committed to fundamentally reforming the dental contract, with a focus on matching resources to need, improving access, promoting prevention and rewarding dentists fairly, while enabling the whole dental team to work to the top of their capability.