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> You get GP stuff on the NHS for free, but dental and optical is only subsidised if you're on state benefits

This isn't really the whole picture though, is it? I pay £25.80 for a dental check-up thanks to the NHS. If I wanted to do that on a private basis I'd probably be paying double.

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Fillings and crowns are also subsidised by the NHS:

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/how-much-will-i-pay...

I live in an EU country where this is not covered by the state health service, so everything is done privately. A filling is around the same price as the NHS, but a crown starts at €500 and dentures are even more.

You're right, I'm not sure why I said that. Still, I've definitely felt more "on my own" with dentistry as I've not always been able to register with an NHS dentist and in general they seem like they can do what they want, whereas we have GP surgeries that are there for the sole purpose of treating patients for free, and they don't unregister you if you miss checkups or whatever.

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