Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of geographical differences in access to dental services across England; and whether differential rates of access account for differences in dental health.

National surveys of child and adult oral health identify a number of contributing factors to account for differences in oral health including deprivation, geography, ethnicity and social class.

NHS England has a legal duty to commission primary care dental services to meet local needs and to work with local partners to address oral health needs identified in local health needs assessments. NHS England also undertake regular surveys of patient access to National Health Service dentistry, the latest was published in July 2017 and the results from the survey responses are presented at national (England), regional and Area Team level. A copy of Summary of the Dental Results from the GP Patient Survey – January to March 2017 is attached.

Access to primary care dental services continues to increase nationally. 22.2 million adults were seen by a dentist in the 24 month period ending 30 June 2017 and 6.8 million children were seen by a dentist in the 12 month period ending 30 June 2017, but we know NHS England has further to go in ensuring access needs are met in all areas.

The NHS England Starting Well programme will also operate in 13 high needs areas to reach out to children most at risk of dental decay who are not currently under the care of a dentist.