The reforms will kick in April

The proposals for fees are expected to include a rise in check up prices, but a lowering in the maximum limit patients can be charged.

The government will also unveil the new dentist contract, which like the fees is due to come into effect in April, to allow more time for preventative work.

Dentists said the current system needed to be made more simple.

Ministers hope the long-waited measures - they have already been put back six months - will help address some of the long-standing problems with NHS dentistry.

Latest figures show that half the population are not registered with a surgery.

If it costs more to go to see a dentists I do not think that will be conducive to good dental health. Roger Goss, of Patient Concern Q&A: Dentist reforms Reform 'long overdue'

There is also a shortfall of 1,800 dentists as many have been attracted into doing private work where they say they can spend more time with patients.

The average NHS dentists sees about 50 patients a day - twice the number private dentists do - as they are paid per treatment they carry out.

However, the new contract is expected to pay them for providing services for an area - in theory allowing them to spend time with patients addressing preventative issues.

The fees proposals, which will go out to a three-month consultation, are also likely to make the system much more simple.

Currently, there are over 400 different charges depending on what sort of filling a patient has, whether they need a crown or root canal work.

Limit

Under the new system, there is expected to be only a few price bands and the limit will be capped at a much lower level than the current ceiling of £378.

However, the cost of standard treatment such as fillings or check ups is likely to increase.

Roger Goss, co-director of Patient Concern, welcomed many of the measures, but said he would be concerned if basic fees went up.

"If it costs more to go to see a dentists I do not think that will be conducive to good dental health. It is more likely to deter people going."

The British Dental Association said the current system was not working for either dentists or patients as there were too many different prices for treatment.

She said the new system needed to be more simple.

Shadow Health Minister Andrew Murrison said: "In 1999 Mr Blair promised that everyone should have the chance to see their NHS dentist within two years, but I suspect this will heap yet more bad news on hard-pressed patients."

And Liberal Democrat health spokesman Steve Webb agreed it was likely to be bad for the patient.