At a Glance
- Thousands more NHS dental appointments are being made available to people across Essex as part of NHS Essex’s ongoing efforts to improve access to care.
- In the two years up to May 2026, 2,400 new patients were able to book appointments with NHS dentists across Essex.
- Funding extra appointments is just one way NHS Essex is working to improve access to NHS dental services.
Thousands more NHS dental appointments are being made available to people across Essex as part of NHS Essex’s ongoing efforts to improve access to care.
In the two years up to May 2026, 2,400 new patients were able to book appointments with NHS dentists across Essex.
Based on NHS England data, dental services in Essex:
- rank as having the fourth highest growth of any ICB in the country and
- deliver the fifth highest percentage of contracted activity in England.
The increase in the number of appointments is part of NHS Essex’s commitment to provide extra funding to all NHS dentists in Essex that over deliver on their contracts by up to 10%.
Beverley Flowers, Executive Director of Neighbourhood Health for NHS Essex said: “We know that access to NHS dentistry is a priority for local people and a vital health service. NHS Essex is committed to working closely with dentists to encourage more to offer additional appointments.
“We know that there are pockets of Essex that do not have easy access to NHS dental services and we are working with the dental community to identify these areas and areas of particular demand.”
Essex residents can seek NHS dental care from any dentist accepting new patients. Details can be found on the NHS Essex website. https://www.essex.icb.nhs.uk/health/support/dental-services/
Funding extra appointments is just one way NHS Essex is working to improve access to NHS dental services.
In 2024/25, an urgent dental access pilot was introduced in mid and south Essex that enables participating practices to offer evening, weekend and bank holiday appointments for urgent dental treatment. This model is being rolled out across Essex.
These appointments are available through NHS 111, helping ensure people experiencing dental pain, infection or other urgent dental problems can be seen more quickly.
NHS Essex has also launched a nationally recognised Care Homes Dental Scheme across mid and south Essex. The programme provides dental care for care home residents, many of whom have historically found it more difficult to see a dentist. NHS Essex is now looking into how this can be rolled out across the rest of Essex.
Beverley added: “We are committed to building on the success of what we did for care homes in mid and south Essex. Through further investment, innovative schemes such as our urgent access pilot and care home dental programme, and by supporting practices to deliver even more NHS care during the coming year.”