It has been reported that patients across the area have not had access to dental appointments for years because of long waiting lists and an insufficient number of dental practices.
Speaking to The Northern Echo, Sarah Burns, director of local delivery at the NHS North East and North Cumbria, said, “We recognise there are real, significant challenges.
“We have talked about the national policy that has been put in place to attract dentists to areas that have under-provision and mobile services.”
The dental services contract has been criticised for causing issues in dental care, such as a lack of NHS dentists and ‘dental deserts’. Patients in County Durham and Darlington have struggled to access NHS care close to where they live.
Sarah added, “Reform is really needed for dental services. The dental contract is a challenge for dentists who work not just in County Durham but across the region.
“There is a range of things we are doing to bring more dentists to the region and to help commission services for underserved areas, but it is absolutely recognised that it’s an ongoing challenge and a pressure.”
Figures from the British Dental Association (BDA) indicate that 13m people have an unfulfilled need for NHS dental care. This includes an estimated 5.6m adults who have been unsuccessful in getting a dental appointment in the last two years.
Eddie Crouch, chairman of the British Dental Association (BDA), stated, “Children in our poorest communities – who are also the least likely to see a dentist – remain the hardest hit.”