Stuart McCance, a dentist in Norfolk, has raised concerns about the lack of dental care for young children in the area.
Stuart is volunteering with Happy Smiles Club to provide care to 800 children across five schools. The club sees a dental team visit students to provide oral health guidance and check-ups if needed.
None of the dental practices in the area is registering children as new NHS patients.
Speaking to BBC News about his growing concerns for young patients, Stuart said, “In some instances, we're finding it's the first time kids have seen a dentist - and they're five or six years of age - when we should be seeing children from six months when their first tooth comes in.
"Some, more worryingly, have never seen a toothbrush.
"I did a visit and some were seeing one for the first time at six years of age."
During one school visit, the team found 88 children who required “urgent dental treatment”. Of the 169 children seen, 82 were not registered to a practice.
Chloe Blake, a volunteer and dental nurse, explained to BBC news that her surgery went “through a stage when we were taking on patients - just children”. But very quickly, the practice was “inundated”.
Julia, a resident of Poringland, near Norwich, has been struggling to find a new NHS dentist for her five-year-old children.
Julia’s daughter, Margo, needs fluoride treatment every three months. Margo has weak tooth enamel, which is highly prone to decay.
After calling 50 practices, Julia found one which would take her children as NHS patients. However, it was a year’s wait for an appointment. Julia commented, "The practice where they are going in November won't see me even privately, because they are full.
"Actually they are not taking children any more either as NHS, they've stopped doing it because they are full, totally full.
"There's clearly a problem with the system and the provision."
Judith Sharpe, deputy chief executive of Healthwatch Norfolk, said, “While sorting out the current situation is not going to be quick or easy to deal with, ensuring Norfolk's younger residents know how to protect their oral health is absolutely vital so this current situation does not continue for future generations."
Alison Thomas, conservative chair of the health, overview and scrutiny committee on Norfolk County Council, said, "We have done everything to try and raise the issue within our own remit.
"We are still awaiting a response to a letter we sent to the secretary of state earlier in the year - people of all ages are struggling to get NHS dentists.
"The dental contract is in a mess."
A spokesperson for NHS East of England said, "We want children in Norfolk to be able to get high quality dental care and check-ups when they need them, and we are working hard with dental practices to improve access to services in the area, including inviting NHS contract holders to take on additional activity.
"We are investing more than £3bn a year into dentistry and have already implemented additional measures to improve access.
"We recognise there is more to do and we will soon be announcing further measures to improve access to dentists, including in Norfolk."