The government has announced that young people leaving care in the UK will be entitled to free NHS dental care, prescriptions, and eye tests until their 25th birthday.
The move aims to tackle health inequalities faced by care leavers, who are more likely to experience poor oral health and struggle to access dental services after turning 18. It forms part of a broader package designed to improve health outcomes and life chances for young people transitioning out of care.
Access to dental care remains a major challenge for many care leavers. High costs, uncertainty over eligibility, and difficulties registering with dentists often lead to untreated dental problems and unnecessary pain. Extending free dental care is intended to remove one of these key barriers and promote early intervention.
Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the Oral Health Foundation, said: “This is about dignity as much as dentistry. Extending free dental care to 25 is a hugely positive step for young people leaving care, many of whom have faced significant barriers to accessing dental services at a critical stage of their lives. It removes a barrier that should never have existed and recognises the increased risk of poor oral health among care leavers.
“The priority now is to ensure that this commitment results in real access on the ground, so every eligible young person can receive the care they need as they build independent lives.”