Patients formed a queue from 5am outside an NHS dental practice yesterday, hoping to secure one of a limited number of new patient appointments. The scene unfolded at a practice that gained notoriety earlier in 2024 when hundreds of individuals waited for hours, demonstrating the acute demand for NHS dental services across the country.
The early morning vigil underscores the ongoing struggle many Britons face in accessing affordable dental care. With NHS dentistry often difficult to find, particularly for new patients, many are left with the choice of paying for private treatment, often at a higher cost, or enduring pain and potential long-term health issues.
Official NHS data reveals a concerning trend in dental access. In the 24 months to June 2023, only 16.4 million adults were seen by an NHS dentist in England, a decrease of 1.2 million compared to the previous 24-month period ending June 2022. For children, 6.4 million were seen by an NHS dentist in the 12 months to June 2023, a slight increase of 0.3 million compared to the previous year, yet still below pre-pandemic levels.
The British Dental Association (BDA) has consistently highlighted that the current NHS dental contract makes it financially unviable for many practices to offer NHS treatment, leading to a significant exodus of dentists from the service or a shift towards private provision. This has created 'dental deserts' in some areas, where NHS appointments are virtually impossible to obtain.
The government has acknowledged the challenges and recently announced a 'Recovery Plan for NHS Dentistry' earlier this year, including a 'new patient premium' to incentivise practices to take on new NHS patients and mobile dental vans in underserviced areas. However, critics argue these measures do not go far enough to address the systemic issues plaguing NHS dentistry.
For those struggling to find an NHS dentist, the NHS advises checking the NHS website for local practices accepting new patients. In cases of urgent dental problems, individuals should contact their usual dental practice or call NHS 111 for advice on out-of-hours services.
Source: NHS Digital, British Dental Association