Fewer people visiting the dentist

FEWER people are making appointments with NHS dentists.

Only 55 per cent of people saw a dentist in the two years to the end of June - the first fall in two years.

In Oldham over 143,000 people (63.2 per cent) saw a dentist in the 24 months to June – a decline of 1.4 per cent from the previous year.

The British Dental Health Foundation hopes that the drop will spur a new impetus from the government, the public and the dental profession to improve access to dental care.