A recent survey by the LDC Confederation has highlighted just how concerned MPs are about access to NHS dental care. Carried out in early summer 2026, the small survey found strong support across political parties for changes to the NHS dental contract and better support for the dental workforce. This survey follows the Public Attitudes Survey conducted by the LDC Confederation.
What MPs told us
- Oral health matters: 9 of the 12 MPs who responded said their oral health was very important to them. However, half said they use private dental care.
- Access is a major concern: 8 MPs said they were very dissatisfied with the availability of NHS dentistry in their constituencies.
- Constituents are struggling: 9 MPs said constituents had contacted them about difficulties finding dental care, and 10 felt that current NHS dental access rates — 40% for adults and 57% for children — were unacceptable.
- There’s a clear call for reform: All 12 MPs agreed that the current NHS dental contract needs to change and should work more closely with wider health services.
Too many people are being left without options
The responses highlight the difficulties people face when trying to find an NHS dentist. Some MPs said they had turned to private care themselves because there were no local NHS options available, or no practices accepting new NHS patients.
There were also concerns about the impact on rural and coastal communities, with some areas described as “dental deserts”.
Support for the whole dental team
MPs also backed changes to give dental professionals a stronger voice and better recognition within the NHS.
- 11 of the 12 MPs supported extending NHS benefits to dental nurses and dental therapists who treat NHS patients.
- 11 of the 12 MPs supported making Local Dental Committee (LDC) membership mandatory on Primary Care Collaboratives, helping ensure dentists are represented in local healthcare planning.
About the survey
The survey was sent electronically to all 650 sitting MPs and received 12 responses — around 2% of all MPs.
All responses were anonymous.
While the number of responses was relatively small, the findings point to clear concerns about access to NHS dental care and strong support among those who responded for meaningful reform.
The full report can be accessed here.
