Children face ‘lifelong poor dental health’ as NHS system collapses | UK | News

Less than half of children have seen a dentist in two years, new research shows.

The figures come as England’s Chief Medical Officer warns NHS dental care is “not fit for purpose.”

The new data collated by the House of Commons Library shows in the South West and London only 48 percent of children visited an NHS dentist in the last two years, compared to 62 percent in the North West. In Somerset just 40 percent of children attended a dental check-up, compared to 64 percent in Greater Manchester.

Speaking at a Public Accounts Committee in Parliament last week, Professor Sir Chris Whitty warned MPs that a “common procedure” among children in hospital is the “destruction of teeth” due to tooth decay – which sets them up “for lifelong poor dental health”.

Data shows up to six in 10 children have rotting teeth by the age of five – with stark differences between the poorer regions of England, and the more affluent.

The new research from the House of Commons Library shows adults are also struggling to access care. In the South West, just 32 percent of adults have seen a dentist in two years, 12 percentage points lower than in the North East and North West. In Gloucestershire, only 27 percent of adults have received treatment, compared to 54 percent in South Yorkshire.

Experts say the shortage of NHS dentists is driving the problem.

The report shows that as of March 2024, England had just 26.2 full-time NHS dentists per 100,000 people. The lowest levels were recorded in the South West (24.4) and East of England (24.3), while London and the North West had the highest provision.

The South West has the highest vacancy rates, with 22 percent of NHS dental positions unfilled, compared to 15 percent in London.

Even where NHS dentists are available, many are not prioritising NHS patients the research shows. Many dental practices operate on a mixed model, offering both NHS and private services . The data suggests that in some regions, they are spending less time seeing NHS patients and more time providing private treatment.

On average, NHS dental practices are open for around 80-89 percent of the time for NHS work. However, the amount of NHS treatment actually provided varies. In the South West, NHS dental chairs were used for just 60 percent of their available time, compared to 77 percent in the North East. 

As NHS dental services become harder to access, many patients are resorting to A&E for urgent dental problems. In the South West, around one in every 460 people sought emergency dental treatment at a hospital in 2023/24, more than double the rate in London, where one in 860 people visited A&E for dental issues, the research shows.

This trend is placing extra strain on emergency departments that are already struggling to cope with high patient numbers. 

Poor dental health can lead to severe infections, chronic pain, and even life-threatening complications. 

Dr Deepa Chopra, a principal dentist at leading London dental surgenry, Whites Dental, in Waterloo, south London who has examined the figures said: “It is deeply concerning so many children across England are struggling to access NHS dental care, with some regions seeing fewer than half of children receiving regular check-ups. This lack of access is not just about toothaches – it has serious consequences for children’s overall health, well-being, and future prospects. Dental pain can impact their ability to eat, sleep, and concentrate in school, affecting their education and quality of life. In the most severe cases, children may need to be put under anaesthetic for multiple extractions – something that should be entirely preventable with proper early intervention. Without urgent action, we risk creating a generation suffering from entirely avoidable dental disease.”

An NHS spokeswoman said: “The NHS is determined to improve access to dental care, and that’s why we are working to incentivise dentists to work in dunder served areas and improve access. However, more needs to be done, which is why we’re working with the Government to reform the dental contract and shape the upcoming 10-year plan to improve our services for patients.”