Millions of UK adults have not seen an NHS dentist for almost two years because they cannot find a practice that will accept them, according to research to a Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) survey .
The survey, which polled 1,800 people in England and Wales, found 300 have not visited a dentist since April 2006 – suggesting as many as 7.4 million adults across the UK could be affected.
The CAB said that of the 7.4 million who tried and failed to see an NHS dentist, 4.7 million eventually opted for private treatment, and 2.7 million went without treatment altogether.
However, official figures suggest the number of people who failed to access an NHS dentist in the last two years amounts to 2 million.
31 per cent of respondents cited the lack of access to the NHS as the most common reason for their near-two year absence.
The research also revealed it is more difficult for people residing in the South West and the North West to find an NHS dentist than in other parts of the country.
CAB chief executive David Harker said: "These figures show the scale of the lack of access to NHS dentistry, reflecting the evidence which bureaux across England and Wales have been reporting ever since the early 90s."
"People on low incomes are particularly affected as private treatment is just not an option."
Last year the government announced an 11 per cent increase in funding for NHS dentistry in England from 2008 and Citizens Advice urged PCTs to ensure the investment lead to improved services .
"This has the potential to deliver real improvements in access to dentistry but it needs to be carefully targeted on those areas where patients are experiencing the most acute problems," added Harker.
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