The British Dental Association (BDA) has strongly supported moves to extend free dental care to young people leaving the care system until their 25th birthday, but stressed without meaningful efforts to expand access it will be an empty gesture.

Pregnant women and new mothers already have entitlement to free dental care, but over 1.5 million have missed out since lockdown owing to the ongoing access crisis.

BDA analysis of official data places unmet need for NHS dentistry at nearly 14 million, or well over one in four of England's adult population. The Government has not allocated any additional funding to close this access gap.

BDA Chair Eddie Crouch said: ‘Extending exemptions to young people leaving the care system makes perfect sense. Charges remain a tangible barrier to vulnerable patients, encouraging millions to delay or avoid care. But to ensure this isn't an empty gesture government must ensure they can actually get an appointment.'