Ryan FowlerAnalysis of the latest ONS ‘Experiences of NHS healthcare services in England’ survey highlights significant gaps in access to dental care, particularly for working-age adults.
The findings show that 5.9% of working-age people (aged 16 to 64) with an NHS dentist or attending dental hospitals had not been to an appointment in over two years. This equates to approximately 1.2 million individuals, based on current population estimates.
The survey also reveals that 12% of all residents in England—around 5.7 million people—do not have a dentist. Among them, 4.9 million are of working age, highlighting the scale of the issue within this group.
Emily Jones, client consulting director at Broadstone, said these figures highlight serious concerns about access to dental care and its wider impact on health. She noted that untreated dental problems can lead to more serious issues, including infections, disrupted sleep, and even cardiovascular complications.
Regional disparities are also evident. The South West has the highest proportion of people without a dentist at 16.9%. The North East and Yorkshire follow with 13.7%, while the East of England records 11.6%. Other regions affected include the North West and Midlands (both at 11.4%), the South East (10.8%), and London (10.1%).
