Dentists are increasingly hiring debt collectors to pursue non-paying patients in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has caused a decline in profits. Some patients in Purley, for example, have been walking out without paying, possibly due to misconceptions surrounding the government’s rent-relief scheme. Debt collection agency Frontline Collections has reported a 20 to 25 percent increase in non-payments compared to previous years. Desperate dentists have resorted to calling in bailiffs to recover outstanding fees, including dentists in prestigious Harley Street. Chris Spencer, Operations Manager at Frontline Collections, stated that they target patients who have the means to pay but deliberately refuse to do so. Spencer shared that they encounter belligerent individuals daily who claim to have legal representation and threaten legal action.
To provide context, NHS dental charges fall into three bands. Band 1 costs £23.80 and covers examination, diagnosis, advice, X-rays, a scale and polish, and treatment planning. Band 2 costs £65.20 and includes all Band 1 services plus additional treatment, such as fillings, root canal therapy, and extractions. Band 3 costs £282.80 and covers all Band 1 and Band 2 services, as well as complex procedures like crowns, bridges, and dentures. Comparatively, private dentists can charge between £20 and £120 for check-ups, with dentures and bridges costing up to £2,520. It is important to mention that Frontline Collections does not target individuals from lower-income areas who genuinely cannot afford to pay. Some patients attempt to deceive dentists by pretending to retrieve payment from their vehicles before fleeing. Furthermore, others resort to using social media to blackmail dentists. The mentality exhibited by some patients suggests resentment towards paying fees for treatment despite experiencing pain.
Recent NHS England data revealed that less than 50 percent of adults in England visited a dentist in the past two years. Only 43 percent of adults over the age of 18 received dental care between June 2021 and June 2023, a decline compared to the period before the pandemic. This equates to 3.8 million fewer adults receiving dental check-ups through the NHS. Children have also experienced limited access to dental services, with 56 percent receiving dental care in the past year, resulting in 700,000 fewer visits compared to pre-pandemic times. Lack of access to NHS dentistry may lead individuals to forgo essential treatment or attempt do-it-yourself dentistry, potentially resulting in more costly procedures in the long run. An alarming increase in patients seeking emergency dental assistance has been reported, with 85,000 contacting NHS urgent care helplines each month, a 42 percent increase from 2018.
The number of NHS dentists has reached its lowest point in a decade at 23,000, with nine out of ten NHS practices no longer accepting new adult patients. Dentists are reluctant to provide NHS treatment due to the limited number of reimbursed procedures. Although the government aims to train thousands more dentists within the next decade, experts warn of a possible extinction of NHS dentistry by 2030 due to a broken system. Dr. Nisa Aslam, a 111 GP, sympathized with patients suffering from severe tooth pain, an intense and debilitating sensation. However, medical professionals are unable to offer dental advice, which leads to a waste of time and resources. NHS England did not respond to requests for comment.
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