Dentistry on Its Knees: Liberal Democrats Demand Action as Tooth Decay Soars

​For years, the Liberal Democrats have sounded the alarm on the slow-motion collapse of NHS dentistry. Recent figures have now confirmed our worst fears: after a period of improvement in the early 2000s, adult tooth decay saw a staggering 13 percentage point rise between 2009 and 2013, and the crisis has only deepened since.  

​With millions unable to access a dentist and children being rushed to A&E in record numbers, the Liberal Democrats are calling for a fundamental shift in how dental care is delivered in the UK.

​A "National Scandal" in our A&E Departments
​The statistics are a damning indictment of years of neglect. Data obtained by the Liberal Democrats under the Freedom of Information Act reveals that over 16,100 people attended accident and emergency departments last year with acute problems linked to tooth decay—an 18% increase since 2019.  

​Most heartbreakingly, nearly 3,000 of these patients were children. Helen Morgan MP, Liberal Democrat Health and Social Care spokesperson, has branded this a "national scandal."
​"It is a national scandal that children are ending up in A&E in agony because they can’t get a dentist appointment. Parents are being forced to watch their little ones cry through the night, all because the NHS dental system has been left to rot." Helen Morgan MP.

​The Rise of "Dental Deserts"
​Across the country, "dental deserts" are becoming the norm rather than the exception. Research from the House of Commons Library shows that 5.3 million children have not seen an NHS dentist in the past year. In some areas, such as Norfolk and Herefordshire, over 60% of children are missing out on basic check-ups.  

​Helen Maguire MP, Liberal Democrat Primary Care spokesperson, highlighted the physical toll this is taking on our communities:  
​"Dentistry is on its knees. In swathes of the country people simply cannot see an NHS dentist, and they are suffering with rotting teeth and oral health conditions as a result." Helen Maguire Mp

​The Liberal Democrat Dental Rescue Package
​The Liberal Democrats are not just pointing out the problems; we have a clear, fully-costed plan to fix them. Our £750 million Dental Rescue Package aims to bring the service back from the brink through decisive policy intervention.  

​Our key policy commitments include:
​Fixing the Dental Contract: Reforming the broken "Units of Dental Activity" (UDA) system that pays dentists the same for one filling as for ten, driving them out of the NHS and into the private sector.  
​Emergency Check-ups: Guaranteeing access to free NHS dental check-ups for those most in need: children, new mothers, pregnant women, and those on low incomes.  
​Ending DIY Dentistry: Ensuring everyone has the right to see an NHS dentist for urgent and emergency care.  
​Prioritizing Prevention: Introducing supervised toothbrushing training in nurseries and schools and scrapping VAT on children's toothbrushes and toothpaste.  

​"The previous Conservative government mismanaged NHS dentistry so badly that they presided over under-spends... The new Government cannot waste any time in gripping this emergency." Daisy Cooper MP, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats  

​It’s Time for Ambition
​While the current Government has made "noises" about reform, the Liberal Democrats believe their plans lack the scale and speed required to meet the emergency. We cannot afford to wait years for contract reform while more practices hand back their NHS contracts and more patients resort to "DIY dentistry" with pliers at home.

​The Liberal Democrats will continue to fight for a dental system that is universal, accessible, and fit for the 21st century.

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