Millions have not seen a dentist in more than two years

The research from Broadstone has uncovered that 5.9 per cent of the English working population (aged 16 to 64) who have an NHS dentist or go to a dental hospital had their last dental appointment over two years ago.

When extrapolated against ONS population estimates, it is equivalent to approximately 1.2m people, despite the wider health risks associated with poor oral health and the importance of regular checkups.

Emily Jones, client consulting director at Broadstone, said, “These findings shine a light on a growing and concerning issue around access to dentistry in England. Oral health is a critical foundation of overall wellbeing, and untreated dental issues can lead to more severe health risks, from infections and sleep disruption to cardiovascular problems.