The Oral Health Foundation has joined leading voices from across dentistry on BBC Radio 4 to highlight the growing crisis in access to NHS dental care and the urgent need for reform.

Speaking on the programme Inside Health, hosted by James Gallagher, the charity helped unpack why so many people across the UK are struggling to find an NHS dentist, and what must change to protect the nation’s health.

Dr Rachael England, Head of Policy and Advocacy at the Oral Health Foundation, appeared alongside Eddie Crouch, Chair of the British Dental Association, and consultant oral surgeon Tom Thayer.

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Access problems reaching breaking point

The programme explored how NHS dentistry has become one of the most pressing issues facing patients, with reports of people travelling long distances for care or being left on waiting lists for years.

Panellists pointed to several key pressures:

• Ongoing problems with the NHS dental contract, including the widely criticised UDA (Units of Dental Activity) system in England.

• Recruitment and retention challenges, with many dentists moving away from NHS work.

• Financial pressures leaving practices on the edge of viability.

• A growing shift towards private care as NHS work becomes harder to sustain.

Dr England warned that the consequences of poor access go far beyond teeth.

“When people cannot get routine dental care, problems don’t stand still – they get worse,” she said. “We are seeing the impact not just in mouths, but across general health, from diabetes to heart disease, and in hospital settings where preventable dental infections can become life-threatening.”

Hospital clinicians on the programme described patients arriving with advanced infections, some requiring lengthy hospital stays and complex surgery – situations that are distressing for patients and costly for the NHS.

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Contract reform and community solutions

The discussion also examined proposed contract reforms and whether they will go far enough to stabilise NHS dentistry. While changes are planned, concerns remain about whether they will make NHS work sustainable enough to attract and retain the workforce needed.

The programme featured an audio report from a mobile dental unit run by Dentaid in Portsmouth, showcasing how charities are stepping in to support people who have fallen through the gaps. The Oral Health Foundation said schemes like these show what is possible, but cannot replace a properly funded national service.

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Prevention and public health must be part of the answer

Alongside workforce and contract reform, the show highlighted the importance of wider public health measures, including:

• Recruitment and retention strategies for the dental workforce.

• Community-based initiatives such as supervised toothbrushing schemes.

• Water fluoridation as a proven way to reduce decay and inequalities.

Dr England stressed that improving access to care and strengthening public health must go hand in hand.

“Dentistry is now firmly on the public and political agenda, which is welcome. But people need more than headlines – they need appointments. Any long-term solution must make NHS dentistry viable for the profession and accessible for patients, while also investing in measures that stop disease before it starts.”

The Oral Health Foundation will continue working with partners, policymakers and the profession to ensure oral health is recognised as a fundamental part of overall health – and that no one is left without the care they need.

BBC Radio 4 - Inside Health - Why is it so hard to find an NHS dentist?