Major change to NHS dentist appointments as charges will rise within weeks – are you affected?

DENTIST check-up fees will rise by £1 from April to £26.80 a time.

NHS charges will increase four per cent compared to last year, pushing the cost of a filling to £73.50 from £70.70.

It comes after warnings that NHS dentistry is “all but finished” and ministers’ rescue plan pledged more appointments and bonuses for clinics to see neglected patients.

Health minister Andrea Leadsom said: “Patient charges provide an important revenue source for NHS dentistry.”

The British Dental Association said patients will be angry about paying more for a declining service.

Polling last year found a quarter of people in England – 23 per cent – have delayed or gone without dental treatment because it was too expensive.

BDA chairman Shawn Charlwood said: “This latest hike is another slap in the face for hard-pressed families across England.

“This won’t put a penny in to bring NHS dentistry back from the brink and the Government is asking the public to pay more for less of a service.

“Ministers are simply covering for cuts.”

Under-18s, pregnant women and some people on benefits get dentistry free on the NHS.