Health bosses in Suffolk say it could take a year before dental appointments go back to normal
They're hoping to turn this around with new emergency dental appointments
Thousands of extra urgent dental appointments are now available across Suffolk and north-east Essex as the local NHS works to improve access to treatment amid ongoing pressures.
Seventeen dental practices across the region are already offering the appointments, and seven more are set to join them. The new £1.2 million Urgent Care Dental Service is being delivered in areas including Ipswich, Colchester, Newmarket, Felixstowe, and Sudbury and is part of a national push to expand NHS dental access.
Executive director for Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB), Peter Wightman, is urging people to use the service if they are in pain or experiencing dental issues that can’t wait.
“Please tell people about this service,” he said. “Do not sit at home. Don’t let family members or your friends sit at home, worried about urgent dental pain. Please tell your friends and family: contact NHS 111 if you're concerned about an urgent dental problem.”
How the service works
The service is intended for both adults and children who need to be seen quickly, either within 24 hours or up to seven days, depending on the urgency, for issues like pain, infections, broken teeth, or loose crowns.
He told us that patients who call 111 will be assessed and directed to the appropriate care.
“They will take it from there and book you in as soon as they can to properly assess you and take the necessary treatment plan for you.”
Currently, around 1,000 people a month are using the dental service, which is being doubled in size under the new rollout. Peter said he understands this still won't meet the massive demand, but it's a step in the right direction, and they're using this to plan how to move forward.
“The fact that we’re doubling the size of the service, we’re interested to see if that demand continues to grow, and then we’ll assess that in a few months’ time to see if we need to take any more steps to increase demand,” he explained. “But ultimately our long-term goal… is to make sure that we can provide routine NHS dental access for patients as well.”
Patients who have had NHS dental care from a practice in Suffolk or north east Essex in the last 12 months are advised to contact that practice first to ask if an appointment is available and, if not, to then contact NHS 111.
As with other NHS dental care, standard charges apply. It is expected that patients will require between one and two appointments. These will be at a total cost of £27.40 to the patient. Some patients will qualify for free NHS dental treatment or help with dental costs
This service doesn’t address that shortfall (in appointments)
However, Wightman was clear that the new service does not yet address the lack of routine NHS dental appointments for those who aren't in urgent need.
“This service doesn’t address that shortfall. It’s aimed at urgent cases,” he said.
For those looking for ongoing or routine care, he advised checking the ICB’s website:
“If you’re looking for an NHS service, then on the ICB website… there's a ‘find my dentist’ website that can help you to see which dentists are taking people at the moment.”
He acknowledged the current challenges faced by many in finding an NHS dentist and said the ICB is working to improve access:
“You're right, if you don't have to pay for it, then the NHS is there for you, and that's the service that we're trying to expand over time. But that’s going to take us time to build up all of the dental workforce and the capacity to be able to properly meet people’s needs.”
The new appointments will be delivered by a team of dental professionals and are subject to standard NHS dental charges. Patients who qualify may also receive free NHS treatment or help with costs.
The ICB says this expansion will deliver more than 15,000 additional urgent appointments in 2025-26, bringing the total to almost 60,000 across the financial year.