Around one in four people could not access an NHS dentist in last two years
Dorset Dental Network say they are looking at ways to "support more patients in need"
Thousands of people across Dorset have tried and failed to access an NHS dentist, say industry experts.
Many more have not even attempted to seek care as they do not think they will secure an appointment, according to the British Dental Association (BDA).
Dorset's Dental Network Chair, Matthew Jerreatt told us: “We appreciate that it’s really difficult trying to access an NHS dentist and because the southwest is such a vast area it exacerbates the situation.
“In Dorset, it’s also more challenging to attract the workforce compared to areas like London and there are pockets where there are problems, so we need to make sure that wherever we put new dentistry’s can support local communities.”
The government plans to flood so-called ‘dental deserts’ with new dentistry graduates to address the issues and reward those who spend at least three years working there with a £20,000 ‘golden hello’.
Mr Jerreatt said: “Incentivising dentists, coming out of dental training, to remain in that area for a period of time, working with and assisting the NHS - which I think is something dentists actually do want to do - is a good way to dentists to work in regions where it's harder to recruit.”
Rescue plan
Wes Streeting, the new Health Secretary, promised to enforce a new Dentistry Rescue Plan, stating that getting an NHS dentist is becoming ‘a lottery’ in the UK.
The government hope to fill the gap of appointments with an extra 700,000 urgent and emergency dental appointments a year.
Mr Jerreatt said: “In Dorset, we are looking at ways we can support more patients from disadvantaged backgrounds that are desperately looking to access a dentist.
“For those patients who are losing hope, if you're worried about something in your mouth, you do have access to urgent care and stabilization services.”
A big priority in Dorset is to look after children and ensure they have access to care whenever they need it.
‘Supervised toothbrushing’ for three to five year olds, to prevent children forced to hospital to have their rotting teeth pulled out is something both the government and Dorset’s Dental Network are keen to push.