Young people leaving care will now be able to access free dental care, prescriptions and eye tests until their 25th birthday, following a new announcement from the government.

The move is designed to support care leavers during early adulthood - a time when many lose the structured support they had as children and can struggle to access basic health services, including dental care.

For many care leavers, cost, uncertainty about entitlement, and difficulty registering with a dentist mean dental problems are often left untreated. This can lead to pain, infection and long-term damage that could have been prevented with earlier care.

The Oral Health Foundation has welcomed the announcement, describing it as an important step towards fairness and dignity for young people leaving care.

Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the Oral Health Foundation says: “This is about dignity as much as dentistry. Extending free dental care to 25 is a hugely positive step for young people leaving care, many of whom have grown up facing real barriers to accessing dental services at a critical time in their lives.

"It removes a barrier that never should have existed and recognises the heightened risk of poor oral health among care leavers. The priority now is making sure this commitment translates into real access on the ground, so every eligible young person can actually secure the care they need as they build independent lives.”

Why this matters

Young people who have been in care are more likely to experience poor health outcomes than their peers. Many report gaps in healthcare support once they turn 18, including not knowing how to register with a dentist or being unable to afford treatment.

Extending free dental care removes a major barrier at a time when young people are navigating education, work, housing and independence. It also increases the chance that dental problems can be picked up early, rather than becoming emergencies later on.

Access will be key

While the announcement is widely seen as positive, the Oral Health Foundation has stressed that access to NHS dental services remains a challenge in many parts of the country. Free care will only make a difference if young people are able to find and attend appointments when they need them.

Clear information, consistent local implementation and enough dental capacity will be essential to ensure this policy delivers real change.

The Oral Health Foundation will continue to monitor how this commitment is rolled out and will keep advocating for action that reduces inequalities and ensures no young person is left behind when it comes to their oral health.