Crowdfunding Surges as NHS Dental Crisis Leaves Patients in Pain

The ongoing crisis in NHS dentistry has led to a significant increase in crowdfunding appeals, as individuals seek private dental care amid a lack of available services. According to a recent investigation by the Mirror, the number of appeals on the crowdfunding platform GoFundMe has more than doubled since 2019, reflecting a growing desperation among patients unable to access essential dental care through the NHS.

The British Dental Association (BDA) has described the situation as reminiscent of the Victorian era, where people were forced to rely on charity for basic healthcare needs. Eddie Crouch, chair of the BDA, stated, “Before the NHS, much of our healthcare was dependent on charities. The fundraising might be digital, but this is another step back to the Victorian era.” The BDA points to a decade of funding cuts, particularly under Conservative leadership, which has severely limited access to NHS dental services for millions of Britons.

Currently, the NHS dental budget in England is estimated to care for only half the population, leaving a significant number of patients without access to care. Reports indicate that many dentists are no longer accepting new adult NHS patients, exacerbating the problem. The Mirror’s Dentists for All campaign highlights how individuals are resorting to drastic measures, including self-extraction of teeth and accruing debt to seek treatment abroad.

Crowdfunding has become a lifeline for individuals like Paul Gwynne, a 40-year-old chef from Blackpool, who launched an appeal after struggling with dental issues for years. He stated, “I can’t find an NHS dentist, I do work but don’t have thousands to spare to get new teeth. This seems to be my final hope.” His appeal reflects a broader trend, with GoFundMe data showing an increase from 627 appeals in 2019 to 1,297 in 2024. In the first half of 2025 alone, 852 new campaigns were created, indicating a 31% rise in such requests this year.

The personal stories behind these appeals underline the urgency of the dental crisis. Lisa Cavanagh Smith, a mother from Sandbach in Cheshire, shared the plight of her son Mikey, who resorted to pulling out his own teeth due to overwhelming pain. Despite finally securing an emergency appointment, the dentist could only offer to extract one tooth, leaving Mikey feeling embarrassed and hopeless at just 29 years old.

Another individual, Alex Boot, has sought help for his wife, Bluebelle, a 33-year-old singer-songwriter whose dental issues have rendered her unable to perform. Alex described their struggle, stating, “We’ve explored every possible route through the NHS, but the severity of the work she needs is not accessible without going private. The total cost is £12,000, and we simply can’t cover this alone.”

The Mirror’s campaign for reform has garnered attention, with the Labour Party pledging to address the “flawed” NHS dental contract, which has created a system where dentists often lose money treating patients requiring comprehensive care. Currently, dentists are compensated the same amount regardless of whether a patient needs three fillings or twenty, discouraging them from taking on more complex cases.

The budget for NHS dentistry in England has stagnated at around £3 billion since 2010, despite rising inflation and a growing population. The BDA estimates this has resulted in a real-terms budget cut of over a third, further complicating access to care. Crouch emphasized, “Ministers could end this all tomorrow if they chose to.”

Compounding the issue, England’s government allocates significantly less funding for dental services per capita compared to other parts of the UK. In the 2022/23 fiscal year, spending on NHS dentistry per head was £38 in England, contrasted with £57 in Wales, £59 in Northern Ireland, and £73 in Scotland. Additionally, the UK has the lowest ratio of dentists per capita among G7 nations.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care acknowledged the challenges, stating, “Years of neglect left NHS dentistry in an appalling state, but we are stopping the decay through our Plan for Change.” This plan includes initiatives to increase urgent dental appointments and reform the dental contract to incentivize better access for patients.

The Dentists for All campaign is calling for comprehensive reforms, including improved access to NHS dental care for all citizens. The campaign’s demands include restoring funding for dental services, recruiting more NHS dentists, and overhauling the current contract system, which has been criticized as “not fit for purpose.”

The situation remains dire, with more than 12 million people unable to access NHS dental care last year, representing over 25% of adults in England. As the crisis continues, patients are left with limited options, turning to crowdfunding as a last resort to secure the dental treatment they urgently need.