Around half of the children across Bath and North East Somerset missed out on seeing an NHS dentist in the past year, it has been revealed.
An investigation found that 47% of youngsters hadn’t seen a dentist, part of the worsening crisis that is putting hundreds in hospital.
Meanwhile, only 34% of adults have seen a dentist in the past two years.
West of England Metro Mayor Dan Norris warned that access to a dentist has ‘fallen off a cliff’, and that he is particularly concerned about the long-term impact on children.
Tooth decay is now the most common reason for hospital admission for young children, some of whom are having to miss school in pain.
Mr Norris said that because most high street dentists have now shut their doors to new NHS patients, this has made it “virtually impossible” for thousands of people in the region to get an appointment.
The Metro Mayor said: “It’s getting harder and harder to see an NHS dentist.
“Not only is that a disaster for people now, it is storing up serious problems for the future.
“Under the Conservative Government, access to NHS dentistry has fallen off a cliff. If that’s what they’ve done to one part of our NHS it feels like the outlook is bleak for other services too under their mismanagement.
“The crisis in dental care is a symptom of nearly 14 years of Conservative rule – propped up by the Lib Dems to begin. More and more people are telling me it’s time for a new approach.”
