Watchdog flags up Brit dental neglect

The British government is facing a renewed backlash over its reforms of public sector dentistry after a new survey found a fifth of people in England had been unable to get a checkup in the last two years.

The latest figures from the Healthcare Commission found that more than a quarter of the people surveyed did not see a dentist once every two years.

More than eight in 10 (81%) of those had tried to access care, but had not been able to.

Anna Walker, the commission's chief executive, said: "Access to NHS dental care is also a continuing concern. Regular dental treatment is important for maintaining good oral hygiene. If a large proportion of people do not receive this treatment regularly, we could be facing a significant national health problem in years to come."

Susie Sanderson, chairwoman of the British Dental Association's executive board, warned that "real problems for patients could be being stored up for the future" owing to poor access to dental care. She said: "It is vital that urgent action is taken to tackle the flaws in the current NHS arrangements for dentistry."

The findings follow a survey that found one in four dentists plans to quit the NHS.

The poll of 86 dentists, for the Dental Practitioners' Association (DPA), found many were dissatisfied with the dental contract introduced by the government two years ago.

Almost all (95%) said access to NHS treatment had not improved since its inception. More than four-fifths (85%) said the new contract was unworkable. More than a quarter (26%) said they did not intend to stay in the NHS after April 2009.

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