Key Summary
- Thurrock, Essex has the fewest NHS dentists in England – just 10 per 100,000 people, far below the national average of 16
- Dentists warn chronic underfunding means NHS payments don’t cover real treatment costs
- Government says it is adding urgent appointments, recruiting dentists, and reforming contracts to improve access
The district accommodates only 10 NHS dentists for every 100,000 people there, the lowest in any local authority in the country.
The average number of dentists per 100,000 people in England is 16.
"For millions, NHS dentistry has effectively ceased to exist, especially among those who need care the most," said British Dental Association chairman Eddie Crouch told BBC.
Clinical director of Sharrow Dental Care in Chelmsford, Tony Clough pointed out that the major issue is funding. "There has been no increase in real-term funding since 2006, we aren't magicians," he said.
He pointed out that for treatments that may cost a dentist £150, they get only get £15 for it on the NHS.
In March 2024, the Conservative government announced dentists would be paid £15 or £50 for new NHS patients, based on treatment complexity.
The Department of Health claims it has it as rolled out 700,000 extra urgent dental appointments and recruiting dentists for high-need areas under the ‘golden hello’ scheme.
The government is also looking into reforming the NHS dental contract - with a shift to focus on prevention and retention of NHS dentists.
