FREE dental check-ups will be offered to everyone in England under Labour plans.
A check for oral cancer will be included in the MoT which will cost around £450million, the industry says.
1
Labour will scrap fees for procedures such as X-rays, teeth polishing and examinations that currently cost £22.70.
The move will encourage more people to go to the dentist as one in five can’t afford to go.
Nearly 400,000 patients visit their GPs with toothache each year, costing £20 million. A further £18 million is spent on 135,000 patients attending hospital due to dental issues.
Free dental check-ups would also reduce the number of people partaking in so-called “DIY dentistry”, the shadow health secretary said.
Jonathan Ashworth said: “It’s shocking that so called ‘DIY dentistry’ is becoming so common with people resorting to doing their own fillings and seriously risking their teeth deteriorating further.”
“With 135,000 patients presenting at A&E with dental problems every year, it’s time we put prevention at the heart of our approach to dental health.”
“People should not be risking their teeth because they can’t afford the care. With Labour, dental check-up fees will be scrapped as we help people live healthier lives.”
The party added that their full pledge on NHS England funding will be laid out in their manifesto, expected to be published this week.
The dentistry pledge is in addition to the £26 billion NHS spend already announced.
At the moment only kids, pregnant women, young mums and people on low-income benefits are eligible for free MoTs. Tories say the plan will hit taxpayers.
