Analysis of the Office for National Statistics (ONS) ‘Experiences of NHS healthcare services in England’ survey revealed a significant gap in dental care.

The research from Broadstone has uncovered that 5.9 per cent of the English working population (aged 16 to 64) who have an NHS dentist or go to a dental hospital had their last dental appointment over two years ago.

When extrapolated against ONS population estimates, it is equivalent to approximately 1.2m people, despite the wider health risks associated with poor oral health and the importance of regular checkups.

Emily Jones, client consulting director at Broadstone, said, “These findings shine a light on a growing and concerning issue around access to dentistry in England. Oral health is a critical foundation of overall wellbeing, and untreated dental issues can lead to more severe health risks, from infections and sleep disruption to cardiovascular problems.

“It’s worrying to see that millions of people are going more than two years before seeing their dentist, potentially missing out on important oral cancer or gum disease checks. The data also demonstrates the significant numbers of people who don’t have a dentist and are struggling to access an appointment when they try.”

The survey also revealed that 12 per cent of all English residents (5.7m people) claim that they do not have a dentist, among which approximately 4.9m people are of working age.

Furthermore, 81.2 per cent of people without a dentist who tried to make an NHS appointment in the last 28 days were unsuccessful. When asked what their follow-up action was, the majority (75.6 per cent) said ‘nothing’.

Dentistry by region

The top three regions with the lowest proportion of people with a dentist included the South West (16.9 per cent), North East and Yorkshire (13.7 per cent) and East of England (11.6 per cent).

The top five areas in England with the lowest coverage included Cornwall and Isles of Scilly (23.3 per cent), Bristol, North Somerset and Gloucestershire (20.7 per cent), Devon (19.7 per cent), Somerset (17.7 per cent) and Northamptonshire (17.6 per cent).

Urban city towns had the highest proportion of people without a dentist at 13.1 per cent.Rural towns (11.7 per cent), urban major cities (11.2 per cent) and rural villages (10.5 per cent) had slightly less people without a dentist.

Emily added, “Given this dental care gap, particularly among the working age population, many employers are now recognising the importance of including dental benefits as part of their healthcare offerings, supporting their employees wellbeing and productivity.

“There are few signs so far of the government making progress in improving access to NHS dentistry.

“It’s important therefore that, as employers adjust to higher national insurance and minimum wage costs, they don’t take their eye ‘off the ball’ when it comes to the provision of healthcare benefits that improve access to care, promote overall health for the workforce, boost productivity and help reduce the strain on NHS services.”

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