Accessing an NHS dentist: Local practice closures revealed

Our investigation explores the challenges of securing an NHS dental appointment, revealing the number of practice closures in your area.

An image depicts a young female dental professional and her assistant tending to a female patient in a dental chair.

New research indicates that a growing number of dental clinics are ceasing their involvement with the National Health Service, suggesting the system is evolving into a two-tiered model.

Analysis conducted by the Nuffield Trust revealed that nearly 600 dental surgeries across England have stopped offering NHS services over the past decade. This decline has been particularly pronounced in parts of the South West and East of England, raising worries about increasing disparities in access to dental care.

The findings suggest that over 10% of dental surgeries that previously provided NHS care no longer do so, making it exceedingly difficult for some communities to secure NHS appointments.

NHS dental activity is currently 8% below pre-Covid levels, and six out of ten adults have not visited an NHS dentist in the last two years. According to the NHS GP Patient Survey, only 38% of those who tried to book a new appointment in the past two years were successful.

Cornwall, Devon, and Northamptonshire have experienced some of the most significant reductions in the availability of NHS dental care. In Cornwall, more than a quarter of practices that previously offered NHS treatment have ceased doing so, highlighting a pronounced shift away from public dental provision.

These findings emerge as government ministers have committed to addressing the issue of "dental deserts," though dentists argue that the current contractual arrangements are unsustainable. Many practitioners have relinquished their NHS contracts due to the financial losses incurred from performing such work.

In Somerset, fewer than 20% of dental practices currently provide NHS services. Alan, an 83-year-old resident of the county, shared that he has abandoned his search for an NHS dentist.

He explained that he once tried to find a local dental appointment but concluded it would be impossible.

Alan mentioned that he now has only one tooth remaining, as the others had "crumbled out over the years," and he has had to adjust his diet accordingly, although he humorously added that he has mastered eating Brazil nuts.

Vivak Shah, who operates three dental practices in Northamptonshire, continues to provide NHS treatment despite it operating at a deficit. He stated that his practices are no longer accepting new NHS patients.

Shah explained that each year they struggle with the decision of how to proceed, and there is a limit to how much private income can subsidize NHS losses.

He warned that if practices stop providing NHS treatment, many individuals could suffer from pain or be compelled to seek emergency care from other parts of the health service, including hospital accident and emergency departments.

Mark Dayan, head of public affairs at the Nuffield Trust, commented that while an individual contract cancellation in one town might not attract national attention, its repetition across the country for a decade signifies a gradual transformation of dentistry into a two-tier system.

He concluded that access to dental care is increasingly contingent on an individual's financial capacity and their geographical location.

Jim Sykes, a dentist based in Hexham, relinquished his NHS contract in 2024.

Sykes described it as a difficult emotional choice, but he explained that the NHS work was causing such significant losses that he had to prioritize his staff and ensure the practice's viability. He inquired about continuing to treat only children but was informed that he would either have to accept adult patients as well or discontinue all NHS work.