The General Dental Council has published its latest research into the public’s views and experiences of dentistry in the UK.

The results point to ongoing issues of access, health inequalities and affordability. Key findings from the research include:

• Just under two-thirds (64%) of respondents had visited a dental practice in the past year. This was stable compared to the 2022 survey.
• Findings in 2021 and 2022 indicated that, post lockdown, more people had started accessing private dental care. The 2024 survey suggests that this increased use of private care has been maintained but has not increased further.
• Of those who said they had received private care or a mix of private and NHS care in 2024, just over two-fifths (42%) reported that they had only started having private dental treatment in the past three years.
• One-fifth (20%) of all respondents had tried to book an appointment for dental care or treatment during the past year and been unable to do so.
• Of those with a regular practice, 61% agreed with the statement ‘my dental practice has become more expensive’.
• The research indicates that some people are making an active choice to reduce their dental care. Just over half (53%) of respondents agreed or agreed strongly that they would leave a longer gap between dental appointments in the future. In total, 46% of respondents agreed or agreed strongly that in future they will only see a dentist in an emergency.
• Almost three in ten (29%) respondents said they felt more confident in the quality of private dental care provision than in the quality of NHS provision. This was almost double the proportion (15%) who expressed the opposite view.Read the report