UK facing health crisis as nearly 4,000 dentists ditch their NHS work, probe finds

NEARLY 4,000 dentists have ditched almost all their NHS work, an investigation has found.

Brits are already struggling to register with a practice or book an appointment.

Desperate patients have resorted to risky DIY dentistry or even pulling their own teeth.

Data from the British Dental Association shows 3,641 dentists have effectively stopped NHS care – carrying out just one course of treatment a month.

Ministers had put in an extra £50 million to create 350,000 extra appointments and help clear the pandemic backlog.

But the ITV investigation found less than a third of the cash was used due to staff shortages. It means only 63,000 more appointments were made.

Shawn Charlwood, BDA General Dental Practice Committee chair, said: “Ministers wrongly assumed the survival of NHS dentistry was a forgone conclusion. Now, after years of neglect, millions are living with the consequences.

“This service is rapidly approaching the end of the line, as dentists walk away from a failed, underfunded system.”

A Department of Health spokesperson said appointments had doubled last year, compared to the previous 12 months.

An NHS spokesperson said: “Latest data shows dental services are recovering post pandemic, with over 26 million patient treatments delivered last year – up 120 per cent from the year before.”

• Pulling Teeth: The End of NHS Dentistry? is on ITV tonight at 8.30pm.