Report

Bold action or slow decay? The state of NHS dentistry and future policy actions

This report from UK think tank the Nuffield Trust explores the state of NHS dentistry and future policy actions.

NHS-funded dental services in England are in near-terminal decline: nearly six million fewer courses of NHS dental treatment were provided last year than in the pre-pandemic year; funding in 2021/22 was over £500m lower in real terms than in 2014/15; and there are widespread problems in accessing a dentist. So what is to be done?

This major new policy briefing proposes a series of short-term actions relating to appointment recall intervals, commissioning and the workforce. It also sets out two approaches for longer-term action, which involve improving the current dental model or adjusting the NHS offer.