Reforming NHS Dentistry

No one should ever have to pull out their own tooth.

Yet for some people, that is the desperate reality.

Cornwall is a “dental desert”, and many don’t have access to a local NHS dentist, leaving them in pain, travelling miles for care, and turning up at the hospital with tooth decay.

This Government is overhauling NHS dentistry. From April 2026, a new £4 billion contract will prioritise urgent and complex care, replacing the outdated UDA system that rewards quick check-ups over time-consuming treatment.

Prevention is key, with supervised toothbrushing for 3 to 5 year olds, expanded water fluoridation, and fluoride varnish programmes rolling out nationally.

In Cornwall, four new NHS practices are being tendered, a mobile dental unit is reaching vulnerable communities, and recruitment incentives are in place to help attract NHS dentists.

No one should be left in pain, and no one should ever have to pull out their own tooth.