More than 35,000 urgent NHS dental appointments will soon be available across the South West, as announced by Health Minister Stephen Kinnock. This initiative is part of a nationwide effort to tackle the growing NHS dental crisis.

In total, 700,018 additional appointments are set to be created across England, including 24,269 in Devon and 10,910 in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Addressing NHS Dental Deserts

Starting in April, these extra appointments will target “dental deserts”—areas where patients struggle to access NHS dentists.

Kinnock stated:
“We promised to end the misery of those unable to get urgent dental care. Today, we’re delivering on that commitment.”

Who Can Access These Emergency Dental Appointments?

The additional appointments will be prioritized for patients experiencing severe dental pain, infections, or those needing urgent procedures like bridge repairs.

Eligible patients can book an appointment by:
✅ Contacting their regular NHS dental practice
✅ Calling NHS 111 if they don’t have a registered dentist or require out-of-hours care

Calls for NHS Dental Reform Continue

While the announcement has been welcomed, MPs and healthcare leaders stress that more must be done to fix the NHS dental crisis.

🔹 Ben Maguire, Liberal Democrat MP for North Cornwall, urged for radical NHS dental reform, pointing out that one in five dentists have left Cornwall since 2019. He called for:

• Fixing the broken NHS dental contract
• Offering targeted recruitment incentives for NHS dentists
• Introducing mobile emergency dental units for rural areas

“Anything less is an insult to those still suffering without basic dental care,” he said.

🔹 Luke Pollard, Labour MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, called the announcement “an important step forward” but acknowledged more action is needed.

He highlighted the recent opening of a new Peninsula Dental Clinic in Plymouth City Centre, which he had been campaigning for since his election.

“I will keep pushing until everyone in our city has access to NHS dentistry,” Pollard stated.

What’s Next for NHS Dental Care?

With growing pressure for long-term NHS dental reform, this initiative marks a positive step—but experts say sustained action is needed to ensure accessible and affordable NHS dental care for all.