A report has found that one in 20 British adults went abroad for dental care last year as it became difficult to find an NHS dentist and private costs rose.
According to the General Dental Council (GDC), the UK’s regulator for dentists, the cost of treatment in the UK was the main reason cited by 6 percent of adults for going abroad.
People also told the GDC that they went abroad for treatment after trying unsuccessfully to find a dental practice in their home country or because they were unable to get an appointment locally.
Younger adults were more likely to choose dental tourism than older age groups, with this percentage rising to 18 percent among 18- to 34-year-olds.
People reported receiving dental care in nearly 30 different countries, including France and India.
According to the General Dental Council (GDC), the cost of treatment in the UK was the main reason cited by 6 per cent of adults for going abroad.
One person even told the GDC that he had included dental care in his regular holiday to Greece after being unable to register with an NHS dentist near his home in the East Midlands.
The findings are part of a large-scale survey of 2,000 adults, commissioned by the GDC, into the state of dentistry in the UK.
It found that public confidence in and access to NHS dentistry has declined in recent years, with reports of ‘dental deserts’ increasing.
About 20 percent said they had tried to make an appointment for dental care or treatment in the past year but had been unsuccessful.
Of those who had not received care in the past 12 months, 31 percent indicated that this was because of the costs.
Less than two in three people (64 percent) reported having visited a dental practice in the past year.
However, a third (30 percent) indicated that they did not have a regular dental practice, 24 percent indicated that they were dissatisfied with the affordability of their treatment and 19 percent were dissatisfied with the waiting time for an appointment.
Of those who received some form of private care, 42 percent reported having received private dental treatment only in the past three years.
Most of those who chose a private healthcare facility did so because they had difficulty accessing NHS care.
According to the GDC, some people ‘prioritised medical care over preventive dental care’ due to the cost of living crisis.
Stefan Czerniawski, Director of Strategy at the GDC, said: ‘The findings highlight the ongoing challenges facing dentistry and the need to make progress in addressing these systemic issues to improve access to timely appointments and the affordability of dental care in the UK.
‘It is particularly concerning that the research provides clear evidence of patient concerns that the recovery of dental care following the Covid pandemic has not only stalled but may even have been reversed.
‘This has worrying implications for the oral health of patients and the public, which require urgent attention.’
According to Louise Ansari, chief executive of Healthwatch England, NHS dental care is one of the main reasons the public contacts the patient advocate.
She added: ‘Even if people have access to NHS dentistry, many cannot afford dental costs.
‘We now call on the new government to inform the public about when and how it will implement the 700,000 additional appointments it has promised under a new Dental Rescue Plan.
‘We are also calling for NHS dental costs to be frozen at current levels by 2025, to prevent more people being deterred from seeking help.
‘In the long term, more fundamental reforms are needed so that everyone has the right to register with a local NHS dentist, in the same way as they would with a GP, to access ongoing check-ups and appointments.’
Eddie Crouch, chairman of the British Dental Association, an organisation representing dentists, said: ‘The cost of living and access to healthcare crises have come together to leave millions of people without choice.
‘Some people go abroad for necessary care, but many more people simply have to do without.’
‘The public sees no light at the end of the tunnel for NHS dentistry. Bold and ambitious action is needed to save it.’
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: ‘It is unacceptable that so many people are struggling to get a dental appointment and this research exposes the scale of the situation.
‘There are large parts of the country where NHS dentistry is virtually non-existent.
‘We are going to rebuild NHS dentistry, starting with 700,000 extra emergency dental appointments.
‘We will also reform the dental contract to encourage more dentists to offer NHS services to patients.
‘Prevention is better than cure, which is why we are also going to introduce supervised tooth brushing for three to five year olds.
‘These changes are fundamental to building an NHS that is fit for the future.’
