One in four of those who can’t get NHS dental care have treated themselves, Ipsos research reveals

A new study by Ipsos reveals widespread public concern about the current state of NHS dentistry, with a majority of Britons believing access to care has deteriorated significantly over the past five years.

Key findings 

• Declining availability: Nearly 7 in 10 Britons (69%) believe the availability of NHS dental care has worsened over the last five years.
• Heightened concern: Three-quarters of Britons (74%) express concern about the current availability of NHS dental care, with 37% saying they are “very concerned.” 
• Lack of confidence in access: Half (50%) of Britons lack confidence in their ability to secure a routine NHS dental appointment. A similar proportion (53%) are not confident that they could receive emergency dental care through the NHS if needed.  
• Affordability worries: Just over half (55%) of Britons are not confident that they could afford emergency treatment with a private dentist. 51% say they are not confident that they could afford routine treatment were they to go private.

• Difficulties securing appointments: While nearly half (48%) of Britons successfully made an NHS dental appointment in the past two years, 18% were unable to obtain an appointment. Amongst those who had an appointment, over a third (36%) experienced longer-than-desired wait times, and 13% had to travel outside of their area to receive care. 
• Turning to private care: Among those unable to access NHS dental care, nearly seven in ten (69%) paid for private treatment instead. Strikingly, around a quarter (26%) said that they treated themselves.

Anna Quigley, Research Director at Ipsos said:

Our new research paints a deeply concerning picture of NHS dentistry in the UK. The public's faith in the service has been shaken, with a clear majority feeling that accessing NHS dental care has become more difficult over recent years. High levels of concern around availability, alongside significant numbers of people forced to turn to private care and even self-treatment, will set alarm bells ringing for those in charge of the health system. Without decisive action from policymakers, we risk creating a two-tier system where oral health is increasingly determined by ability to pay, rather than clinical need.

Technical note:  

• Ipsos interviewed a representative sample of 1,091 online British adults aged 16-75 across Great Britain between the 21st-24th February 2025. 
• Data are weighted to match the profile of the population. All polls are subject to a wide range of potential sources of error.