Local Government Concerns with Gaps in NHS Dental Access
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- Published: Thursday, 04 September 2025 15:01
- Written by Peter Ingle
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The Local Government Association (LGA) has recently completed an analysis of available data published by NHS England about dental access. The LGA found that an uneven distribution of NHS dental practices in England is leaving many communities struggling to access treatment, particularly rural and deprived areas.
There were no local authority areas in the country with more than one dental practice providing NHS treatment per 1,000 people, with rural areas more likely to have fewer NHS practices.
The present focus on levelling out inequalities was borne out, with the data confirming that those living in areas with the poorest health outcomes in England, are less likely to find an NHS dentist in their area than those living in areas with the best outcomes. This confirms the general observation that demand continues to outstrip supply in the communities that need it most.
In Middlesbrough, an area with the highest levels of deprivation, there are just 10 NHS dental practices per 100,000. In contrast despite Richmond upon Thames having one of the lowest deprivation levels, it has 28 per 100,000 people.
The LGA warned that this continued unequal access to NHS dental care deepens health inequalities, and has urged the Government to introduce targeted policy responses to improve provision in underserved areas.
Chair of the LGA Health and Wellbeing Committee, Cllr Dr Wendy Taylor, said: “This new report highlights that there is still a shortage of affordable dental treatment in all communities across the country, particularly rural and more deprived areas.”
She acknowledged that the Government is taking steps to improve access, but added: “it is also vital that the current dental contract is reviewed to make NHS dentistry more viable. There is still more to do to ensure equitable care for all communities.”
National and local news outlets covered the LGA analysis, often looking at how their locality ranked in the dental desert stakes. BBC Essex, reported that Thurrock had the fewest number of dental practices offering NHS services per head in Essex. It has about 10 practices for every 100,000 local population, one of the lowest figures for any local authority in England. The mean number of active practices offering NHS services per 100,000 population across England, is 16.
The Mirror ran with the headline, “All the UK areas worst hit in dentist crisis revealed in new report.”
The paper, which has been running its Dentists for All campaign, noted that while Labour had vowed to tackle the NHS dental access crisis, the British Dental Association had commented that it has made "no progress" since being elected. It quoted BDA Chair Eddie Crouch, who said: "For millions, NHS dentistry has effectively ceased to exist, especially among those who need care the most. Government can save this service, but that will require real ambition underpinned by sustainable funding."
The LGA is a politically-led, cross-party organisation that works on behalf of councils to ensure local government has a strong, credible voice with national government. It aims to influence and set the political agenda on issues that matter to councils.
Image of Middlesbrough credit
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