A recent analysis revealed that approximately 40% of children did not visit a dentist within the past year leading up to June. Research conducted by the Liberal Democrats indicated that in around three-quarters of regions nationwide, over 40% of children had not seen a dentist for two years.
The Liberal Democrats highlighted the inconsistency in dental care availability across the country, citing examples like Nottinghamshire, where 35% of children had not visited a dentist in two years, compared to 56% in Somerset.
Concerning adults, about 60% have gone without dental care for two years or longer. The data further showed that more than 12 million people struggled to access NHS dental care last year, with 40% of children missing their recommended annual check-ups.
The UK allocates the lowest proportion of its health budget to dental care among European nations. Government spending on dental services in England saw a real-term reduction of 25% between 2010 and 2020, leading to a decline of over 500 NHS dentists to 24,151 since the onset of the pandemic.
A parliamentary report criticized the current NHS dentists’ contracts as inadequate, mentioning that the system sets limits on the number of NHS patients a dentist can treat, resulting in financial challenges for dentists. The report called for a change in the system to allow treatment based on patient needs.
The Liberal Democrats proposed a £750 million dental rescue plan to eliminate “dental deserts” by attracting dentists back to the NHS from the private sector and ensuring free dental check-ups for specific groups like children, new mothers, pregnant women, and low-income individuals.
In response to mounting pressure, the government announced adjustments to the NHS dental contract in England starting from April 2026. These changes aim to incentivize dentists to provide urgent care for critical cases promptly.
A spokesperson from the Department of Health and Social Care acknowledged the challenges in the NHS dental system inherited by the government and highlighted ongoing efforts to address the issues, including expanding urgent and emergency appointments and enhancing preventive measures.
The Mirror’s Dentists for All campaign has been advocating for increased funding for dental services and the recruitment of more NHS dentists. A positive development from the campaign was the government’s decision to increase payments for dentists attending to urgent cases.
Overall, the government is committed to reforming the dental contract to enhance access, align resources with demand, and emphasize preventive dental care.