Urgent need for transformative change in NHS dentistry

In several parts of the country there are acute access problems, and a BBC–British Dental Association survey in 2022 found that 90% of dental practices across the UK were not accepting new adult NHS patients.6 Access problems are compounded by a significant number of low-risk healthy patients being seen too frequently by their NHS dentist for routine examination and receiving low-value items of care, such as routine scale and polishes, which have been shown to have minimal health value.7,8 In addition to the general dental services, community and hospital dental services that provide specialist management for patients with more complex social and clinical needs have faced increasing demands because of the acute problems in general dentistry and workforce pressures. Oral health should be viewed as a public health priority, not a luxury commodity for the few.10 Dental pain, infections, and other oral health problems have a major effect on quality of life and people's ability to carry out essential daily functions such as eating and speaking. The reformed system needs to be more responsive to population oral health needs to ensure that dental services are available and accessible to those with the greatest needs.