London’s dental crisis was laid bare on Thursday by figures showing that fewer than four in 10 Londoners have seen a dentist in the past two years.
Analysis of NHS data by the Standard shows that just 39.2 per cent of adults in the capital had seen a dentist in the 24 months up to March 2024.
The figures come amid long waits for care and a sharp increase in people struggling to access an NHS dentist.
Last month, Health Secretary Wes Streeting said that fixing dentistry was a “matter of urgency” and promised “a serious plan” to reform the NHS dental contract, which has been blamed for an exodus of dentists.
The data shows that just over a third (37 per cent) of people in north-east and south-west London had seen a dentist in the past two years, rising to 38 per cent in north-central London, 41 per cent in north-west London and 43 per cent in south-east London.
Adults should see a dentist every two years, according to NHS guidance.
Nationally, just 40.3 per cent of adults were seen by an NHS dentist in the two years up to June 2024 — a drop of 9 per cent compared with the same period up to September 2019.
Just 56.1 per cent of children were seen by an NHS dentist in the 12 months up to June 2024, compared to 59.7 per cent in the year to September 2019.
In north-east London, just 49 per cent of children had visited a dentist.
Experts have also warned of a rise in “DIY dentistry”, with patients forced to use a filling kit from a pharmacy or pulling out their own teeth.
Eddie Crouch, chair of the British Dental Association (BDA), said: “Tweaks at the margins have failed to deliver for millions struggling to access NHS dentistry. The last government said its recovery plan would make things faster, simpler and fairer.
“The reality is the recovery has stalled, and a new government needs to offer real change to give this service a future.”
BDA analysis of GP Survey data out last month indicated unmet need for NHS dentistry in England now stands at 13 million, compared with four million before the pandemic. Labour have pledged to create 700,000 additional urgent dental appointments a year.
