Health Minister Nesbitt unveils £7m boost for Dental Services in Northern Ireland

In a significant step towards improving oral healthcare, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has announced a £7 million investment in General Dental Services (GDS) for the 2025/26 financial year.

The funding package, detailed during a recent Assembly debate on dental care access, aims to enhance the availability and quality of dental services across Northern Ireland while addressing urgent oral health needs.

The investment will support a range of initiatives, including the continuation of the Enhanced Child Examination Scheme, which has already made a substantial impact since its reintroduction in June 2024. The scheme targets children aged 0-10 who are not registered with a dentist, offering examinations, tailored oral health advice, and age-specific fluoride applications to prevent dental decay.

Over 37,000 newly registered children have benefited from the programme between June 2024 and April 2025, highlighting its success in reaching vulnerable young patients.

In addition, the funding will maintain a 30% enhancement to fees paid to dentists for essential Health Service treatments, such as fillings, extractions, and root canal procedures, throughout 2025/26.

This measure is designed to improve public access to priority dental treatments. The package also allocates £1.6 million to support dental practitioners who continue to deliver Health Service care, ensuring that patients can rely on consistent, high-quality treatment.

The Dental Access Scheme, launched on 1 August 2024, will also continue to provide urgent care for unregistered patients with pressing oral health needs. Since its inception, the scheme has facilitated treatment for nearly 18,400 high-need patients and is secured with funding until 2027.

Expansion of Happy Smiles Programme

Alongside the GDS investment, Minister Nesbitt confirmed the expansion of the Happy Smiles programme, a key initiative aimed at improving children’s oral health in Northern Ireland’s most deprived communities.

Originally launched in 2016 to support nursery school children in the 20% most deprived wards, the programme will now extend to include Primary 1, 2, and 3 schoolchildren in these areas.

The expansion is a proactive step towards tackling dental decay among young children in disadvantaged communities, ensuring early intervention to promote lifelong oral health. By broadening the programme’s reach, the Department of Health aims to address inequalities in dental care access and foster healthier habits from a young age.

A Commitment to Long-Term Sustainability

Speaking during the Assembly debate, Health Minister Nesbitt emphasised the need for sustained efforts to secure the future of dental services.

“Alongside these specific interventions, I am clear that the General Dental Services, as with other services, require sustained effort to ensure sustainability over the longer term,” he said.

To this end, the Minister announced the commissioning of a General Dental Services cost-of-service review, set to be completed in 2025/26.

“My Department is committed to advancing work on the long-term future of dental services, to ensure patients can continue to access care when they need it, whilst taking measures to ensure the service is sustainable,” Nesbitt added.

“I have approved the commissioning of a General Dental Services cost of service review to be completed in 2025/26. This will in turn provide a robust evidence base to inform how the service will develop over the coming years.”

The review is expected to provide critical insights into the financial and operational challenges facing dental services, paving the way for evidence-based reforms to ensure long-term accessibility and sustainability.

Addressing Oral Health Challenges

The £7 million investment and the expansion of the Happy Smiles programme come at a time when access to dental care remains a pressing concern for many in Northern Ireland.

The initiatives reflect a commitment to addressing both immediate needs and long-term challenges within the sector. By prioritising children, urgent care, and practitioner support, the Department of Health aims to build a more resilient and equitable dental care system.

The continued funding of the Dental Access Scheme until 2027 ensures that unregistered patients with urgent needs will not be left without care, while the Enhanced Child Examination Scheme’s success demonstrates the value of early intervention in preventing dental decay.

The expansion of Happy Smiles further underscores the focus on tackling health inequalities, particularly among young children in deprived areas.

Looking Ahead

As Northern Ireland navigates the complexities of healthcare delivery, Minister Nesbitt’s announcement signals a proactive approach to improving dental services. The forthcoming cost-of-service review will be a critical step in shaping the future of General Dental Services, ensuring that patients across the region can access high-quality care when they need it most.

With over 37,000 children already benefiting from the Enhanced Child Examination Scheme and nearly 18,400 patients treated through the Dental Access Scheme, the impact of these investments is already evident. As the Happy Smiles programme expands, thousands more children in Northern Ireland’s most disadvantaged communities will gain access to vital oral health support, laying the foundation for healthier futures.