Joint report from Nuffield Trust and Health Foundation – a response from BSPD

It identifies a consistent gap between the dental health of the rich and poor, with parents of children eligible for free school meals finding it harder to access a dentist.   The very clear north-south divide in good dental health in England is also highlighted. 

Report author and Nuffield Trust Director of Research, Professor John Appleby comments, “As a nation our dental health is improving, but it is shocking that your income or where you live can still determine your dental health, how likely you are to be hospitalised with dental problems and how easily you can access the dental treatment you need.” 

Claire Stevens, BSPD President said, “This report is important because it highlights the steps that policy-makers need to take. We hope very much that the report’s findings and recommendations will feed into the Government’s thinking.

“The report shows that while dental charges have risen, the amount of money spent on NHS dentistry is 15 per cent lower than in 2010/11. However, the issues which need resolving are strategic and complex and will not be solved simply by increasing spending on NHS dentistry.