'Where I live, many people don't have teeth'

Dentists in England are to be given cash incentives to take on new NHS patients under government plans to improve access. And those willing to work in the areas with the fewest dentists are to get a £20,000 bonus. Patients explain just how bad it has got trying to see an NHS dentist.

When Stephen Davies walks around his Lancashire village of Rawtenstall he says the impact of the NHS dentistry crisis is clear for all to see.

"There are people walking around with no teeth," says the 67-year-old. "I notice it amongst my friends. There's a whole generation of people with no teeth because they can't get a dentist."

He, like many others, has been unable to access an NHS dentist and has had to resort to emergency treatment to have 10 teeth pulled out. He ended up taking out a loan to pay for four false teeth.

"I've paid my National Insurance all my working life and I can't find a dentist. It's just not fair."

It is a story that will be familiar across the country. NHS England's national patient survey last year found just over half of people had tried to access an NHS dentist in the past two years - with nearly a quarter of them unsuccessful.

Those who were not registered with a practice already found it the most difficult - chiming with a BBC investigation in 2022 that found nine in 10 NHS dentists were not taking on new adult patients.

Teresa Kemp, 66, says that since moving to County Durham three years ago she has not been able to find an NHS dentist.

She suffers with loose teeth, which cause swollen, painful gums. "It feels like this country is falling apart. It is terribly sad."

Peter Williams is another person who has been unable to find an NHS dentist. He and his family last saw one in 2019.

"Very soon after our dentist reopened its doors after Covid, we received a letter saying they were no longer treating NHS patients and we would have to take out a private dentistry plan or pay for our treatment."

Despite regularly trying local dentists close to him in West Sussex, he has not been able to find one willing to take on new NHS patients.

"They either only accept private patients or their NHS slots are all full.

"It is impossible. My children are 19 and 17 and they haven't had a check-up for four years. I think it is really unfair, particularly on children."

George Filer, 80, from South Gloucestershire, has found himself in the same position.

"I have not seen an NHS dentist now for over four years as our local dentist was taken over and now only accepts private patients.

"I have contacted the NHS for a dentist and the nearest one offered was in Basingstoke. A round trip of over 200 miles."

He is not optimistic the government's plans will work.

"It won't go anywhere. Will what the government is proposing be enough to overcome a private patient's income? I doubt it very much."

But it is not only adults who struggle. Town planner Naomi Minto's seven-year-old son Ruben has never been able to get a dental appointment on the NHS.

"It's quite sad. As a youngster I always had access to an NHS dentist. Maybe I took that for granted. But for children now not to be able to see one is quite worrying when you are trying to teach them about dental hygiene, and you haven't got that support."

Recently Naomi has resorted to using a private dentist.

The use of private dentistry is becoming more common.

The patient survey found that of the people who did not try to see an NHS dentist, half had relied on private dentistry or went without because they assumed they would not be able to find an NHS one.

Tommy Benn, 28, from Berkshire, has not been able to find an NHS dentist since 2019 when he moved house.

No practices in his area are taking on new NHS patients. The closest dentist doing so is 17 miles away and neither Tommy nor his partner drive, so that option is off the table.

In September, Tommy resorted to booking a private appointment because he was suffering with toothache. His consultation and treatment for fillings including one root canal came to £1,720.

Tommy could not afford the fee upfront, but has been able to opt for a payment plan to spread the cost.

"It's a large amount of money we can't afford. With an NHS dentist it would have been maybe a quarter of the price or a little more."

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