Researchers also found just half of children went for their annual dentist check-up despite it being recommended by the health service
Fewer than 12% of adults saw an NHS dentist last year in some areas.
Researchers also found just half of children went for their annual check-up despite it being recommended by the health service. In North Kesteven, Lincs, 11.9% of people have seen a dentist in the past year. This was closely followed by Melton, Leics, where the figure was 14.8% and Tewkesbury, Glos, where it was 14.9%.
The analysis by think-tank Onward follows national figures showing just four in 10 adults saw a dentist in the years 2022 to 2023. It is calling for reforms so that most check-ups would not be carried out by dentists but instead by dental therapists, who should be allowed to work independently.
Chief economist Tim Leunig said: “We need to liberalise dentistry to help more people see a dentist and stay healthy. The Government can create many more NHS appointments by letting dental therapists run practices and deliver the care they’re trained for.”
But Eddie Crouch, of the British Dental Association, warned: “There simply isn’t an army of dental hygienists and therapists queuing up to work in a broken, underfunded system.”
A Government spokesman said: “Our [recovery] plan includes offering dentists £20,000 golden hellos to work in under-served areas and rolling out mobile dental vans to rural areas.” The Mirror is campaigning for the right to an NHS dentist for all.