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Inside Health

Inside Health

Why is it so hard to find an NHS dentist?

10 February 2026

28 minutes

Available for over a year

Dentistry is high on the public and political agenda. There have been dozens of headlines about access to NHS dentistry, with some people having to travel huge distances to find a dentist, or being put onto long waiting lists to get an NHS appointment.

In this episode of Inside Health, James Gallagher is joined by chairman of the British Dental Association Eddie Crouch, the Oral Health Foundation's Dr Rachael England, and consultant oral surgeon Tom Thayer. Together, they drill into the issues surrounding NHS dentistry. Along the way, they discuss possible solutions, whether contract reforms will help, and the potential future of dentistry in the UK.

Presenter: James Gallagher

Producers: Alice Lipscombe-Southwell and Thomas Hunt

Production coordinator: Stuart Laws

Content editor: Ilan Goodman