How easy is it to find an NHS dentist? It depends on where you live
New analysis reveals that nearly 600 dental practices in England have stopped offering NHS services over the last decade, creating 'dental deserts.' Many dentists cite the current NHS contract as financially unviable, leading to reduced access for patients.
Why it matters
The decline in NHS dental access highlights a growing crisis in public healthcare provision and health inequality.
Image source, Getty Images By Chloe Hayward Published 24 August 2026, 00:10 BST Hundreds of dentist practices are abandoning NHS work as the service drifts towards a two-tier system, new analysis suggests.
Data analysed by the Nuffield Trust found that nearly 600 practices in England have withdrawn from NHS dentistry over the last 10 years. The decline has been particularly sharp in parts of the South West and East of England, raising concerns about growing inequalities in access to care.
The analysis suggests more than one in 10 dental practices that once offered NHS care no longer do so, leaving it near impossible for some communities to find NHS appointments.
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