'Where I live, many people don't have teeth'

In England, the government plans to offer financial incentives to dentists for accepting new NHS patients, in response to a severe access crisis.

Dentists in underserved areas may receive a £20,000 bonus.

Many, like 67-year-old Stephen Davies from Rawtenstall, witness firsthand the effects of the crisis—people, including friends, are without teeth due to the lack of available dental services.

Davies himself underwent emergency tooth extractions and had to pay for dentures with a loan, expressing frustration over the unavailability of NHS dental care despite paying into National Insurance.

The struggle is widespread. An NHS England survey revealed that over the past two years, only half of the respondents tried to access an NHS dentist, and almost a quarter of those efforts failed. A previous BBC investigation also found that the majority of NHS dental practices weren't accepting new adult patients.

Individuals like Teresa Kemp from County Durham find themselves with untreated dental issues, while Peter Williams from West Sussex has been unable to secure appointments for his family since 2019. Similarly, George Filer from South Gloucestershire faces a potential 200-mile trip for NHS dental care.

Skepticism persists about the effectiveness of the government's proposed solution, with concerns that it may not match private sector income.

Children also suffer from the shortage. Naomi Minto's seven-year-old son Ruben has never seen an NHS dentist, forcing her to turn to private services.

The trend toward private dentistry grows as many assume NHS options are unavailable, as the survey showed half of those not seeking NHS care either opted for private treatment or forewent care altogether.

Tommy Benn from Berkshire highlights the financial burden, unable to find an NHS dentist since 2019 and incurring a hefty £1,720 fee for private dental work—a cost significantly higher than NHS rates, though manageable with a payment plan.