Oral health improvement paper published

A white paper has been published which aims to build consensus on the policy solutions needed to establish sustainable and equitable access to dental care.

Titled ‘The Future of Dentistry: Unlocking solutions to improving oral health’, the paper, by dental payment plan provider Denplan, was produced using the voices of its members.

The paper was discussed at a roundtable event on November 26, 2024, sponsored by Helen Morgan, a Liberal Democrat spokesperson for health and social care. It was attended by leaders representing 12 organisations across the dental sector.

The paper follows the National Audit Office report that revealed the previous government’s £200m rescue package to increase access to NHS dentistry in England is not on track.

Access to dental care remains a critical healthcare challenge across the UK, with recent figures revealing that 97 per cent of new patients are unable to access NHS care. Tooth decay remains the most common reason for hospital admission in children aged between five and nine years.

In Denplan’s Oral Health Survey of adults across Great Britain, 48 per cent identified access to NHS dentistry as a key issue for the government to tackle. Denplan said it is vital that the sector comes together to offer practical solutions and supports work to make substantial progress towards securing accessible dentistry for all.

Catherine Rutland, clinical director for Denplan and Simplyhealth, said, “With the government’s forthcoming NHS 10-Year-Plan, our members urge policymakers to consider dentistry’s mixed economy when shaping the healthcare agenda. Cross-department collaboration is essential, and the dental profession must be fully consulted in strategy development.

“A future where all patients have access to care, practices are fairly rewarded, and dental teams feel fulfilled requires cohesive action. Oral health cannot be sidelined any longer. The time to act is now.”

The roundtable hosted experts from the dental sector and parliamentary advocates, to share their insights into how solutions can be realised. This was followed by a drop-in session where parliamentarians and policymakers met to learn more about the dentistry crisis and how it can be resolved with an improved understanding of dental provision in England, including the mixed economy of dentistry.

Helen said, “For too long, dental care has been overlooked in the UK resulting in a growing crisis in access. Colleagues from across the house regularly hear from constituents how services are unable to meet the demand for accessible, high-quality services. This report marks a critical step forward, uniting the dental sector and calling policymakers to action to ensure we can secure we act on dentistry in this parliamentary term. Together we can build a healthier, more resilient dental sector that prioritises access, quality and innovation for both patients and providers.”

The Future of Dentistry white paper has set out recommendations against three key aims: