Dental charity supports people experiencing health inequalities in Hampshire
Dentaid is working with the NHS to help relieve pressure on the
A charity is offering free dental care for people who are facing health inequalities across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
The partnership between NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight and Dentaid The Dental Charity means that people on low incomes and receiving certain benefits, new and pregnant mothers, children, people experiencing homelessness, supported services, and those supported by partner charities can receive care on a mobile dental unit.
Dentaid’s vehicles visit family hubs, community centres, public buildings and places of worship in Southampton, Portsmouth and the surrounding towns, on the Isle of Wight, Andover, Bordon and Basingstoke.
Onboard, dentists and dental nurses provide free care for those who are eligible for the service with treatments including fillings, extractions, scale and polish, fluoride varnish and x-rays.
Patients who believe they meet the eligibility criteria for the service which includes being exempt from NHS dental charges, facing a health inequality and not having seen a dentist for the last two years, can request to make an appointment by calling 023 8001 4450. Lines are open from 9.15am to 3.45pm, Monday to Friday.
Dentaid is opening up its books for appointments from October.
While there, he spoke to dental professionals and patients receiving support through the scheme including residents who haven’t been able to access dental care and are exempt from NHS charges.
More than 13,000 patients attended outreach services on Dentaid’s mobile dental units last year. In Havant alone, the scheme has seen more than 1,000 patients since February 2024, providing over 7,000 treatments including extractions, fillings, oral health advice, head and neck cancer checks and support with dentures.
Barriers
Andy Evans, CEO of Dentaid The Dental Charity, said: “This innovative partnership is able to take dental services directly to those who need them the most.
"By helping to break down the barriers to dental care faced by many in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, we can help to create capacity elsewhere in the system.
“We are hugely grateful to our hard-working team of clinicians and support staff, who are ensuring that people who were suffering long-term dental pain and social exclusion can now get the dental care and treatment they need.”
Improve
James Roach, director of primary and local care at NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight, said:
“Our partnership with Dentaid over the past two years has helped us improve access to NHS dental care, particularly for people who may otherwise struggle to get treatment.
“We are grateful for Dentaid’s continued support in helping us improve access to dentistry across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and it was great Alan Mak MP could see first-hand the positive impact the Mobile Dental Unit is having for local residents in Havant.
“While we know there is still more to do, services like the mobile dental unit are making a real difference to communities and helping more people access the care they need. This progress is reflected across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, where 35,000 more patients received NHS dental care in 2025/26 than in the previous year.”
More information about Dentaid can be found at www.dentaid.org