More people across the South East are getting the NHS dental care they need, with new figures showing increases in the number of adults and children seen over the past year, as well as a rise in the number of courses of treatment delivered by local dental teams. 

Last year (2025/26), NHS dentists across the South East carried out 5,635,053 courses of treatment – an 8.21% increase on the previous year (5,207,223 in 2024/25). This means thousands more people have been able to get essential care such as check-ups, fillings, urgent treatment and preventive support. 

Children’s access has risen. In the 12 months to 31 March 2026, 1,118,688 children were seen by an NHS dentist – a 3.8% increase on the previous year (1,077,886). Regular dental care is vital for children’s long-term health, and teams across the South East continue to focus on prevention and early support for families. 

Access for adults has also improved. In the 24 months* to 31 March 2026, 2,720,463 adults received NHS dental care — a 3.3% increase compared with the previous year (2,633,932). This reflects the work practices are doing to offer more routine and urgent appointments.  

Shab Shivji, Regional Chief Dental Officer, NHS England, South East, said:

 “It’s really encouraging to see more people across the South East getting NHS dental care. These increases show the commitment of dental teams and the difference it makes when more appointments are available for patients.  

“There is still much more to do as we know many people still struggle to get the dental care they need and there is more work to be done, despite this positive news So we will keep working with ICBs and with practices to make it easier for people to get the care they need close to home.” 

Across the South East, dental teams are also working to make it easier for people to get NHS care. New Dental Contract Quality and Payment Reforms mean every practice must provide a set level of urgent dental appointments, helping ensure fairer access for patients wherever they live. A new Quality Improvement programme is supporting practices to improve the care they offer, and three new complex care pathways have been introduced to help patients with severe decay or advanced gum disease get the support they need. 

In June this year, it was also announced that the University of Portsmouth would become home to 25 new dental school places — the first-time dentistry has been taught in the city with the first students due to begin training from 2027.  

*Children’s dental recall is between 3-12 months depending on the child’s individual risk of tooth decay and gum disease. Adult’s dental recall is between 3 to 24 months and are tailored by dentist based on personal risk of oral disease.