NHS dental crisis prompts surge in crowdfunding and urgent calls for reform

Rising costs and systemic underfunding have led to a dramatic increase in NHS dental patients turning to crowdfunding and desperate measures, exposing the urgent need for reform in England’s dental services.

The growing crisis in NHS dentistry in England is forcing an increasing number of people in pain to turn to crowdfunding for essential dental treatment, highlighting the severity of access issues in the public system. A recent investigation has revealed a dramatic surge in appeals on GoFundMe, more than doubling from 627 campaigns in 2019 to 1,297 in 2024, with a further 31% rise in the first half of 2025 alone. Patients unable to find NHS dentists or afford private treatment are left with no choice but to seek financial help from the public, a trend the British Dental Association (BDA) condemns as a return to a “Victorian era” reliant on charity for healthcare that should be universal.

The root of the crisis lies in chronic underfunding and an outdated NHS dental contract that disincentivises the provision of care for those needing the most treatment. The BDA estimates that despite inflation and population growth, the dental budget has been effectively cut by over a third in real terms since 2010, with the overall budget frozen at around £3 billion. This persistent lack of investment means NHS dentistry capacity only covers about half the population, with most dentists no longer accepting new adult NHS patients. Consequently, many patients face long waits, emergency pain, and major dental problems that could have been prevented with early intervention.

The underfunding also manifests in low dentist morale and financial viability, exacerbated by pay and price pressures. While NHS patient charges were recently increased by 2.3%, the BDA argues that this fails to resolve the systemic issues. At the same time, the 4.64% pay rise for NHS dentists falls short of recommended levels and fails to keep pace with soaring inflation in dental supplies, utilities, and staff costs. These challenges risk accelerating the exodus of dentists from NHS contracts, as many providers operate at a loss under the current funding model.

Patient stories underline the human cost of the crisis. Paul Gwynne, a 40-year-old chef from Blackpool, described how the loss of most of his teeth has affected all aspects of his life and expressed despair at the lack of NHS options and the high cost of private treatment. Similarly, Lisa Cavanagh Smith from Cheshire shared how her son Mikey, aged 29, endured such severe pain that he pulled out one of his infected teeth himself before finally getting an emergency appointment, where he was told only one tooth could be removed on the NHS despite needing them all extracted. These accounts reflect a growing number of patients who are forced to take desperate measures, including self-treatment, or go into significant debt to afford private care.

The ongoing crisis has prompted political responses. The Labour party has pledged to reform the “flawed” NHS dental contract that pays dentists the same regardless of treatment complexity, while the Green Party has proposed a £3 billion increase in the dentistry budget by 2030 to eliminate so-called “dental deserts” where NHS access is severely limited. Meanwhile, the Westminster government, responsible for funding dentistry in England, is criticised for investing significantly less per capita (£38 per person) compared to other UK nations like Scotland (£73) and Wales (£57), contributing to a lower dentist-to-population ratio than all other G7 countries.

In response to the crisis, the Department of Health and Social Care has outlined plans including urgent appointment rollouts, contract reforms, and prevention schemes such as supervised tooth brushing for young children in deprived areas. The department emphasises its commitment to “stop the decay” and improve the situation, but critics say these measures fall short of addressing the systemic underfunding and fail to meet urgent patient needs.

This NHS dental crisis represents a complex interplay of underinvestment, flawed funding structures, and rising private costs that threaten the accessibility and quality of dental care for millions. With patients increasingly forced to turn to public fundraising platforms and risking their health due to lack of NHS options, the call for proper funding and urgent reform grows louder, highlighting dentistry as an essential healthcare service that must not be left behind.

📌 Reference Map:

• Paragraph 1 – ^[1] (Mirror), ^[2] (Mirror)
• Paragraph 2 – ^[1] (Mirror), ^[5] (BDA media centre), ^[7] (the-dentist.co.uk)
• Paragraph 3 – ^[3] (GDP UK), ^[4] (Dentistry.co.uk)
• Paragraph 4 – ^[1] (Mirror)
• Paragraph 5 – ^[1] (Mirror)
• Paragraph 6 – ^[6] (Green Party), ^[1] (Mirror)
• Paragraph 7 – ^[1] (Mirror), ^[5] (BDA media centre)

Source: Noah Wire Services

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score:
7

Notes:
The narrative presents recent data on the surge in crowdfunding for NHS dental treatments, with specific figures from 2019, 2024, and the first half of 2025. The earliest known publication date of similar content is 3 January 2016, highlighting the longstanding nature of the NHS dentistry crisis. The report is based on a recent investigation, indicating a high freshness score. However, the inclusion of updated data alongside older material may suggest a mix of fresh and recycled content. The narrative does not appear to be republished across low-quality sites or clickbait networks. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were identified. The narrative is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No similar content was found more than 7 days earlier. The update of earlier versions with new data justifies a higher freshness score but should still be flagged.

Quotes check

Score:
8

Notes:
The narrative includes direct quotes from individuals such as Paul Gwynne and Lisa Cavanagh Smith. No identical quotes were found in earlier material, suggesting potentially original or exclusive content. The wording of the quotes varies slightly compared to other reports, indicating originality.

Source reliability

Score:
6

Notes:
The narrative originates from The Mirror, a reputable UK newspaper. However, the report is based on a press release, which may indicate a single-source origin. The British Dental Association (BDA) is cited, a reputable organisation, but no direct verification of the quotes from Paul Gwynne and Lisa Cavanagh Smith was found online. This raises concerns about the verifiability of these individual accounts.

Plausability check

Score:
7

Notes:
The narrative aligns with known issues in NHS dentistry, including underfunding, workforce shortages, and access problems. The BDA’s condemnation of crowdfunding for dental treatment as a return to a ‘Victorian era’ reliant on charity is consistent with their previous statements. The reported figures on the surge in crowdfunding are plausible and reflect ongoing challenges in NHS dentistry. However, the lack of supporting detail from other reputable outlets and the absence of direct verification of individual patient stories reduce the overall plausibility score.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM

Summary:
The narrative presents recent data on the surge in crowdfunding for NHS dental treatments, with specific figures from 2019, 2024, and the first half of 2025. While the report is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score, the inclusion of updated data alongside older material suggests a mix of fresh and recycled content. The quotes from Paul Gwynne and Lisa Cavanagh Smith appear original, but their verifiability is uncertain. The narrative aligns with known issues in NHS dentistry, but the lack of supporting detail from other reputable outlets and the absence of direct verification of individual patient stories reduce the overall plausibility score. Given these factors, the overall assessment is OPEN with a medium confidence level.