Quote Originally Posted by LeningradCowboy View Post
The historical reason is that the demand for dental treatment was so high when the NHS was established that the government couldn't afford to keep it free.
That was my suspicion that it was a cost based decision and one made years ago. It is curious though.

I suppose eye care is the same? Or were "NHS specs" always free back in the day? Maybe prescriptions (in England) too is another example

It is a strange one though. I remember discussions with an American friend once who picked up on the fact NHS dental work isn't free despite essentially everything else being so.

Politically I doubt they could get away with it now.