Exclusive: Record number of NHS dentists came to Norfolk, last year
However, between 2024 and 2025 the county's workforce only grew by three, according to official data
A local woman who's suffering with recurring oral infections is telling us she's decided to sell up and move out of the county, just so she can see an NHS dentist.
Claire from Swaffham is making the decision despite stats - seen by us- showing there's actually been a slight rise of 3 in the number of NHS dentists available in Norfolk last year.
"After six years of looking for an NHS dentist I was able to find one, but that 150 miles away"
She told us how the lack of local provision is affecting her:
"I've got prolonged pain, toothaches and anxieties of what is going to happen and what I can do about it all. I was up at 4am this morning because all of all this.
"After six years of looking for an NHS dentist I was able to find one, but that 150 miles away from me. Making that trip over to Bedfordshire took me all day. I was gone in the morning and not back until midnight.
"I was totally shattered after all of this and I thought to myself, I can't keep doing this.
Claire told us that promise of change just aren't cutting through:
"For example, if you keep ringing every morning and eventually get two choices from 111, somebody normally picks up and you're met with 'no we're fully booked, we've taken our own patients first".
The figures in more detail:
Total Dentist in Norfolk and Waveney:
2024/25- 331
2023/24- 328
2022/23- 372
2021/22- 410
2020/21- 391
2019/20- 422
Joiners and leavers:
2024/25- 37 & 38
2023/24- 33 & 42
2022/23- 19 & 35
2021/22- 29 & 17
2020/21- 29 & 47
(Source: NHS Norfolk and Waveney ICB)
"There used to be a time...where I could see somebody within four weeks"
Dr Andy Bell is vice-chair of Norfolk's local dental committee:
"If somebody comes to see me for a check-up and they need some treatment, they're probably looking at a four or five month wait there.
"That's quite a long time. There used to be a time, particularly pre-Covid where I could see somebody within four weeks.
"When it comes to the contract we need to move away from an activity model, where dentist get paid for what you do, instead we need one that's more based on prevention.
"We all know the health benefits of improving somebody's oral health by themselves. The statistics show that for every pound spent in prevention you save five pounds in the future".
What's the Government doing here?
The Department of Health and Social Care says they're rolling out
-An overhaul of NHS dentistry will prioritise patients with most urgent dental needs and those requiring complex treatments
- New incentives for the NHS dental contract to offer longer-term treatments for major issues such as gum disease and tooth decay through the NHS
-Deep-rooted reforms are fundamental to government’s wider rescue plan for dentistry, including:
-Out urgent and emergency care appointments
-Supervised toothbrushing for 3 to 5 year olds
-Water fluoridation schemes to reduce decay
"Changes will make it easier for anyone with urgent dental needs to get NHS treatment"
Minister for Care Stephen Kinnock said:
"We inherited a broken NHS dental system and have worked at pace to start fixing it - rolling out urgent and emergency appointments and bringing in supervised toothbrushing for young children in the most deprived areas.
"Now we are tackling the deep-rooted problems so patients can have faith in NHS dentistry - these changes will make it easier for anyone with urgent dental needs to get NHS treatment, preventing painful conditions from spiralling into avoidable hospital admissions.
"This is about putting patients first and supporting those with the greatest need, while backing our NHS dentists, making the contract more attractive, and giving them the resources to deliver more.
"This marks the first step towards a new era for NHS dentistry after a decade of decline, one that delivers for patients and our dedicated dental professionals.