People in Bristol are being forced to pull their own teeth out, as access to National Health Service (NHS) dentistry has reached critical levels. Chris Loder, MP for West Dorset led the debate and highlighted the dire situation in a Westminster Hall debate on Wednesday, May 24, stating, “Access to NHS dentistry in the southwest has been on an alarming downward trajectory for some time.”
A shortage of NHS dentists has contributed to the decline in dental services. Despite having 24,272 active NHS dentists in England, a quarter of the adult population still has unmet dental needs. Loder stressed that the increase of 2.3% in the number of NHS dentists compared to the previous year is misleading, as many practitioners have reduced their NHS work, exacerbating the strain on the system. This has led to individuals either resorting to private dentistry, incurring additional costs, or going without essential dental care, risking poor oral health.
The southwest region, has been rated fifth out of seven for adult NHS dental coverage, with only 35% of adults having access to essential dental services, falling below the national average.
