NHS Dental Figures Show Four in Ten Adults in England Were Seen Over Two Years

NHS dental statistics show that 18.8 million adults in England were seen by an NHS dentist during the 24 months to 31 March 2026. That represented 40% of the country’s adult population, according to figures published by the NHS Business Services Authority.

The data also record 7.17 million children receiving NHS dental care over the 12 months to the same date, equivalent to around 60% of England’s child population. These measures offer a snapshot of use of NHS dentistry, but they do not tell us directly how many people tried and failed to obtain an appointment.

Treatment activity has increased

The figures show 37.6 million courses of NHS dental treatment in the 2025/26 financial year, 6.2% more than a year earlier. They also record 25,419 dentists undertaking some NHS activity in England, including foundation dentists.

Access and capacity are different questions

A growth in treatment activity can coexist with frustration about availability. National treatment totals do not show whether patients can secure routine appointments close to home, how long they wait, or whether they choose private care. Regional differences matter because dental provision is not distributed evenly.

What would show whether access is improving?

Meaningful evaluation requires several measures together: the number of patients seen, new-patient availability, urgent treatment access, local workforce coverage and any changes in dental need. The published figures are a useful starting point for a wider investigation rather than proof that 60% of adults were refused NHS care.

Keep Updated UK will examine how access varies across England and report any reforms against measurable patient outcomes rather than announcements alone.