Ministers in Cornwall have been encouraged to address this crisis in dentistry.
Information acquired from a Freedom of Information of Request to the Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board (ICB) by the Cornish & Devon Post revealed that there are currently 41,555 patients on the NHS dental waiting list in Cornwall and Isles of Scilly.
The average time it takes to register with a dentist is 1441 days, the equivalent of three years and 11 months. For patients under 18-years-old, the typical waiting time is currently 1351 days, or three years and eight months.
The ICB has said that they are working in association with the NHS south-west collaborative commissioning hub, local dentists, and the seven integrated ICBs to form a recovery plan in response to the pressures of NHS dental care in the south-west.
Neil Carmicheal, former MP and chair of the Association of Dental Groups (ADG), said, “these shocking figures unfortunately replicate what we are seeing across the country. UK dentistry is in a state of crisis.”
Following the election of the new Labour government, the ADG has emphasised its campaign to strengthen the dental workforce.
The government has acknowledged the significance of increasing the availability of appointments, specifically in rural areas.