NHS dentists in England at lowest level in 10 years

NHS dentists in England at lowest level in 10 years

The number of active NHS dentists in England is at its lowest level in a decade, official figures show, as pressure mounts for urgent reform.

According to official data seen by the BDA, just 23,577 dentists performed NHS dental work in 2022/23. This is down by 695 on the previous year, and more than 1,100 when compared to pre-pandemic numbers. The crash brings figures to levels not seen since 2012. ‘The government needs to drop the spin, accept the facts, and provide a rescue package to keep this service afloat,’ said the BDA’s General Dental Practice Committee chair, Shawn Charlwood.

‘We face an access crisis, and with hundreds of millions [of pounds] set to be pulled away, funds must be put to work solving these problems.’

Better funding

The figures put pressure on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak over his claims about the state of dentistry. Sunak has repeatedly said that 500 extra dentists were recorded as providing NHS services in the 2021-22 financial year.

As a result, the BDA is calling for ‘real reform’ and a ‘properly funded service’, adding that the government needs to bring a degree of sustainability to the dental budget.