23 December 2025
Young people leaving care will now be able to access free dental care, prescriptions and eye tests until their 25th birthday, following a new announcement from the government.
The move is designed to support care leavers during early adulthood – a time when many lose the structured support they had as children and can struggle to access basic health services, including dental care.
For many care leavers, cost, uncertainty about entitlement, and difficulty registering with a dentist mean dental problems are often left untreated. This can lead to pain, infection and long-term damage that could have been prevented with earlier care.
The Oral Health Foundation has welcomed the announcement, describing it as an important step towards fairness and dignity for young people leaving care.
Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the Oral Health Foundation says: “This is about dignity as much as dentistry. Extending free dental care to 25 is a hugely positive step for… Source by Oral Health Foundation Read More
