People have been turning to DIY dentistry as the lack of NHS dentists in England soars. So-called dental deserts are growing across the country according to new analysis with people in deprived and rural areas likely to miss out on vital treatment.
The chairman of the Local Government Association's (LGA) community wellbeing board expressed concerns that a shortage of NHS dentists combined with the cost of living crisis could see more people forego dental treatment and risk emergency procedures in the future. Cllr David Fothergill urged the government to reform the contract it has with dental surgeries in a bid to tackle the issue.
Mr Fothergill said: "This stark new analysis shows a shortage in affordable dental treatments for communities all over the country. In particular, it is concerning that it is rural areas as well as those living with the highest levels of deprivation that are more likely to miss out on NHS dental provision.
“As we continue to feel the effect of the cost-of-living crisis, a lack of NHS dentists could risk people choosing to forgo routine dental treatments or even resort to DIY dentistry, risking more costly emergency dental treatments being needed further down the line. The government should reform the contract it has with dental surgeries as well as develop a workforce strategy to ensure we can have affordable dental treatments for communities across the country.
“Councils also need a real-terms increase in their public health grant so they can provide vital oral health improvement programmes to prevent longer-term health problems.”
New data compiled by Care Quality Commission (CQC) and published as a rate per 1,000 residents on the LGA’s data platform, shows no local authority area in the country has more than one dentist providing NHS treatment per 1,000 people.
Analysis for July to September 2022 shows that Ashfield in Nottinghamshire has the lowest number of dentists, with 0.062 per 1,000 people.
Selby in North Yorkshire is next lowest, with 0.065, followed by Tamworth in Staffordshire (0.065), Mid Suffolk (0.067), Rochford in Essex (0.068), Ryedale in North Yorkshire (0.072), Bolsover in Derbyshire (0.074), Chelmsford in Essex (0.078), East Cambridgeshire (0.078) and South Derbyshire (0.082). The best-served areas are Surrey Heath (0.224), Barnet in London (0.228), Richmond upon Thames (0.257), Elmbridge in Surrey (0.262), Camden (0.279), Hammersmith and Fulham (0.316), Kensington and Chelsea (0.325) and Westminster (0.374).
Research previously published has shown that children in deprived communities have poorer dental health than those in more affluent places. Across local authorities in England there is large variation, the LGA said, ranging from 7 per cent to 51 per cent of five-year-olds having tooth decay.
Councils are in charge of running programmes to promote good oral health and prevent problems, particularly among children, while NHS dentists are commissioned by NHS England. The LGA said the public health grant for councils to help provide its service has been cut by 24 per cent in real terms since 2015/16, equivalent to a total reduction of £1 billion.
British Dental Association chairman Eddie Crouch said: “The government must be more ambitious in its plans to reform NHS dentistry. To save this service we need real commitment – root-and-branch reform and adequate funding. A broken contract is forcing dentists out of the NHS every day it remains in force. Tinkering at the margins will do nothing to help the patients who need us most.”
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