"How it is for me " - your experiences of dentistry
Accessing NHS dental care in North Yorkshire has become increasingly difficult and expensive, leaving many people without the treatment they need. This issue has been a significant concern for years, particularly for those not already registered with an NHS dentist, as practices accepting new patients are scarce.
Limited NHS dental services
The availability of NHS dentistry in North Yorkshire is critically low. Approximately one in four adults in the North East and Yorkshire region cannot access NHS dental care, with over 1.7 million people facing unmet dental needs. Areas such as Scarborough and rural North Yorkshire are particularly affected, with closures of dental practices and long waiting lists for appointments. Some people have reported waiting as long as eight years for NHS dental care.
Steps to address the crisis
Efforts to improve access include new funding to expand services and plans to open NHS dental practices in key locations such as Scarborough, Whitby, and Thirsk. Mobile dental units are also being considered to serve remote and underserved communities. However, the demand continues to far exceed the available capacity, forcing many to opt for private care or forego treatment altogether.
Why the problem is growing
The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated existing challenges by creating a backlog of patients and compounding staff shortages. A shift towards private care has further restricted access to NHS services, particularly for rural, deprived, and vulnerable people.
Rural and demographic challenges
North Yorkshire's low population density—76 people per square mile compared to the national average of 430—means services are stretched thin. Only eight towns in the county have populations over 10,000, and rural isolation complicates access. Adding to this, the ageing population is growing; the number of residents aged 65 and over is projected to increase by about a third by 2040 (Office for National Statistics). This trend places additional strain on already limited dental services.
Addressing North Yorkshire’s dental care crisis will require sustained efforts to expand services, reduce backlogs, and ensure equitable access for all residents, regardless of location or income.
The impact on people
The lack of accessible dental care has left many in pain, with some resorting to dangerous “DIY dentistry.”
I'm unable to find a dentist. I resorted to pulling my own teeth out. I have already pulled three of them out - and about to pull the fourth.
Your experiences of NHS dentistry
Barry's story
Barry lives in Richmond. He highlighted concerns over the accessibility, affordability, and prioritisation of NHS dental care, highlighting the impact of high demand and insufficient funding on patients' health and financial wellbeing.
I am fortunate that I have access to an excellent NHS dentist however I am concerned that NHS patients are no longer prioritised. It took months for me to get treatment for a broken tooth due to high demand for the service.
Good dental care is so important for future health and wellbeing. Teeth and the jaw are vital to skeletol health particularly the spine.
Although dentist skills are excellent, access and high cost are meaning that people are not able to access the service. My recent dental bill for NHS work was over £300. Sadly, this had to be paid on my credit card as I didn't have access to this amount of money. The issue isn't a direct reflection on my dental practice; it is about funding and access to dental care.
Dean's story
Dean lives in Catterick Garrison, near Richmond. He is struggling with severe dental issues, having resorted to pulling out his own teeth due to the high cost and long wait times for dental care, which has left him feeling isolated and unable to leave his house
I have pulled out four of my own teeth and number five is getting to stage it’s going to come out. I don't want to leave the house.
My NHS dentist recently turned private. I pay a monthly membership, they was told ld have to pay for a filling repair which would cost £100 more than their monthly mortgage payment."
I've been told it's a five-year wait to see an NHS dentist.
Denise's story
Denise lives in Scarborough. Her experience highlights the severe impact of inaccessible NHS dentistry, as she endured eight years of untreated dental issues, repeated infections, and a mental health crisis due to an inability to secure treatment or referrals, leading to long-term oral health damage.
The lack of accessible NHS dentistry in Scarborough is a failure especially in an area that experiences high levels of those living in poverty or on the breadline who cannot afford private dentistry.
I moved to Scarborough in 2016. I applied to lots of dentists with no luck. I then got 3-4 impacted wisdom teeth which caused repeated and severe infections that went untreated and damaged my health significantly. It also took me out of work and led me to a mental health crisis due to the prolonged periods of pain and hopelessness that I could not access treatment.
Local dentists could not treat the issue as it needed referring to the maxillofacial department at Scarborough Hospital. However, as I could not register as an NHS patient anywhere no one would provide me with a referral. I even contacted NHS England.
Eventually, after two years, I travelled 300 miles back to my childhood dentist who wrote me a referral to Scarborough Hospital to remove all three teeth.
During the surgery they were only able to remove one that day. They said they would rebook me for the remaining two. That never happened. It was never followed up. I never received my 2nd appointment and they couldn’t do anything more.
I then fought for another five years contacting dentists across North Yorkshire to be seen as an NHS patient just to complete a new referral. I contacted my GP (General Practitioner) who could not do the referral although did prescribe me antibiotics on one occasion of infection due to the danger of sepsis.
I finally got an NHS dentist after 8 years of living here and had my surgery. However, the repeated infections have caused irreparable damage to my mouth, jaw and teeth which would require private treatment.
Moira's story
Moira lives in Snape, near Bedale. She is a disabled woman in her 60s, dealing with mobility issues and a liver condition. She has struggled to access dental care for six years after losing her dentist during COVID-19, leaving her with untreated dental decay likely worsened by past steroid treatment.
My teeth are in a dreadful state, l haven’t seen a dentist for six years. At the moment l am not in pain, however, l have broken teeth, and two front teeth that are going rotten. I strongly suspect that these issues are due to my now completed steroid treatment, as my gums were very swollen and painful whilst taking the drugs.
I was registered with a dentist in Caterick, however during COVID-19 they disappeared. Due to my age and health conditions, l didn’t try to get a replacement as l was self isolating, however, l now need to locate a dentist who is prepared to take me on.
Helen's story
Helen lives in Harrogate, but visits an NHS dentist in Knaresborough. Her experience highlights her frustration with delays and inadequate care from her NHS dentist, which led to a worsening tooth issue requiring extraction, compounded by long waiting times and limited appointment options.
Carers or friends take me to my dental appointments due to high taxi cost. It costs £30 return each time.
I have had had several check ups and no fillings required. The dentist is unhappy and pushing hygienist visits all the time. I have explained about needing morning appointments.
Duringa recent check up, I had a chip on back tooth. The dentist said it was minor and would sort after hygienist visit. By that time, the the tooth had a hole, gum swollen and started with abcess. I feel it would not have happened if my dentist has sorted this earlier.
I saw another dentist at the same practice. They told me that the tooth needs to be removed. My dentist rung me to tell me I am being referred to a dental hospital. It is a one-year wait! My tooth won't wait that long it's now crumbling as I eat.
I've asked, but receptionist at my dental practice won't give me an appointment with another dentist . My usual dentist is booked for another three months. And there are no other NHS dentists around.I feel very cross as this was not my fault!
Jasmine's story
Jasmine highlights the prolonged and challenging journey of securing dental treatment under anesthesia for her profoundly disabled, non-verbal daughter. She highlights systemic delays, inadequate resources, and the strain of navigating healthcare as a parent, ultimately resolved after a year of persistence.
I live in Scarborough. I am filling this in but it is my daughter that was having the treatment. My daughter is profoundly disabled and non verbal. She needs dental treatment under anesthetic in a theatre setting. She is under Harrogate dental team. We have to travel to York for treatment as they do not have the x-ray facilities at Scarborough.
Scheduled treatment was cancelled due to the COVID-19 outbreak and I thought it would just resume but she went to the bottom of the list. I queried appointments and after two assessments, best interest meeting and treatment plan she was to go on the list. Numerous phone calls ensued and I was informed that there were people waiting 80 months and that they were only taking patients with face swelling!
As a former dental nurse, I found this hard to accept after all this waiting. After numerous phone calls, a further five assessments, a further best interest meeting and an identical treatment plan she had her treatment, a year after her initial set of pre theatre appointments, at York Hospital. She had not had any treatment for nearly seven years. This is disgusting. I am told it is due to lack of dentists. It is difficult for patients at any time, but harder for patients with learning disability. The treatment when she finally received it was good.
