The Oral Health Foundation has said that new plans to change NHS dental contracts may help some patients in the short term, but they do not go far enough to fix the bigger problems facing NHS dentistry.

The proposed changes focus on making small adjustments to the existing NHS dental contract, rather than replacing it. They are intended to improve care for patients with higher needs and ease some pressures on dental practices.

The charity said the government has accepted that access to NHS dental care is in crisis, but warned that changing contracts alone will not solve why so many people still struggle to see a dentist, why dentists are leaving the NHS, or why gaps in oral health continue to grow.

This comes as evidence shows oral health is getting worse across the country, with demand for NHS dentistry far higher than the system can cope with. The Oral Health Foundation warn that without long-term investment in prevention, early support and public health, pressures on services will only increase.

It also believes that a system focused mainly on treating problems after they appear, rather than stopping them from happening in the first place, will continue to fail both patients and dental teams.

Dr Nigel Carter OBE, Chief Executive of the Oral Health Foundation, says: “The government’s plans recognise that NHS dentistry is in trouble, but they don’t go far enough. Small changes to contracts may help some patients in the short term, but they won’t fix the reasons why so many people still can’t get the care they need.

"Unless there is serious investment in prevention, early support and public health, demand will keep outstripping supply and inequalities will continue to grow. A system that focuses on fixing problems after they happen, rather than stopping them in the first place, will always struggle. These reforms risk being another sticking plaster, not a long-term solution.”

The Oral Health Foundation said it will continue to work with government, dental professionals and partners across health and education to support policies that help prevent dental disease and improve access to care for people most at risk.