SOUTHAMPTON and other parts of Hampshire have suffered a sharp drop in the number of dentists - with one area recording a fall of 26%.

One woman was told she would have to wait 14 months to see a dentist and a would-be patient with two rotten teeth has been trying to get an appointment for more than two years.

People have spoken out after figures from the Department for Health revealed the scale of the problem in towns and cities across the UK.

The area covered by the NHS Hampshire, Southampton and Isle of Wight Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has seen the number of dentists fall from 768 in 2020 to 719 last year - a drop of 49 or six per cent.

Over the past five years the number of dental surgeons in the CCG area has declined by 65 - a reduction of eight per cent.

Kym Donovan, of Southampton, said: "I've got strong, healthy teeth but I think my ten-year-old daughter may need a bit of help in the future.

"Last month I visited a surgery near my home and was handed the forms, only to be told I'd have to wait at least 14 months for an appointment.

"I was shocked and appalled - no wonder so many people are walking around with either bad or no teeth.

"I've still got the forms in the car. If I developed a serious dental problem and was in a lot of pain I suppose I'd have to go to A&E."

Other people have also contacted the Daily Echo to complain about the shortage.

One woman said: "I can't get registered with any NHS dentist, despite trying for more than two years. I've now got two rotten teeth and still no dentist will help me - it's horrendous."

The number of dentists in some CCG areas fell sharply in the year ending March 31, 2021, with Portsmouth recording a 26% reduction.

Mydentist, the largest provider of NHS dentistry, is demanding immediate action.

Chief executive Tom Riall said: "Without it, the problem will only get worse. More patients will be left in unnecessary pain, dental decay will go untreated, and oral cancer diagnoses will be missed."

The shortage has been created by Brexit, an increasing number of dentists leaving the profession, and the impact of the pandemic.

Eddie Crouch, chairman of the British Dental Association, said: "Covid restrictions have left dentists with huge backlogs, unable to see more than a fraction of our former patient numbers, especially in the NHS."

But NHS England said it had taken unprecedented action during the pandemic, including the provision of more than 600 urgent dental centres.

The NHS Hampshire, Southampton and Isle of Wight Clinical Commissioning Group was approached by the Daily Echo but did not respond to requests for a comment.