District has fewest NHS dentists per head

There are about 10 NHS dentists for every 100,000 people in Thurrock

Thurrock in Essex has the fewest number of dentists offering NHS services per head in England, according to new analysis.

There are about 10 dentists for every 100,000 people in the district, which is the lowest figure for any local authority in the country.

The Local Government Association examined the latest data from NHS England.

"For millions, NHS dentistry has effectively ceased to exist, especially among those who need care the most," said British Dental Association chairman Eddie Crouch.

"The government can save this service, but that will require real ambition underpinned by sustainable funding."

The mean number of active dental practices offering NHS services per 100,000 in people in England is 16.

Tony Clough, clinical director of Sharrow Dental Care in Chelmsford, said the problem was simply down to funding.

"There has been no increase in real-term funding since 2006, we aren't magicians," he said.

"There are patients whom it may cost us £150 to treat but we only get £15 for it on the NHS - where is the financial incentive in that"?

"The government's proposal to reform the system is welcome but it's tinkering around the ages and doesn't look at the whole pathway of dental disease."

In March 2024, the previous Conservative government said dentists could be paid either £15 or £50 for new NHS patients - depending on the complexity of the treatment.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said it had begun a rollout of 700,000 extra urgent dental appointments and a "golden hello" scheme of recruiting more dentists in areas of most need.

"This government inherited a broken NHS dental system but we are getting on with fixing it," they said.

They also said they were reforming the NHS dental contract - with a shift to focus on prevention and retention of NHS dentists - and were rolling out supervised tooth brushing for three to five-year-olds.