The charity Citizens Advice said there is “huge inequality” in access to dentists in England and Wales, and urged action to deal with “dentistry deserts” in many areas including some parts of Hampshire and Lancashire.

It claimed two million people are forced to put off treatment or go private because they can’t find an NHS dentist.

Last April the Government introduced a new dental contact intended to improve patient access as well as putting greater emphasis on preventative work.

But the predicted benefits have failed to materialise, according to the British Dental Association (BDA).

Its survey found that 85 per cent of dentists believe patient access has not improved as a result of the new contract – under which dentists are paid for carrying out a set number of units of dental activity (UDAs) over a year.

Susie Sanderson, chair of the BDA’s executive board, said: “When the Government is failing to meet even its own success criteria for the new contract, then it’s time for urgent action.

“We now have a reductive, target-driven system that is failing both patients and dentists.

“The future of NHS dentistry is becoming increasingly fragile and we need action now before it shatters altogether.”

At a BDA conference today Dr Sanderson will call on the Government to scrap the UDA as being the only way of measuring performance.

She will say: “We need a more sophisticated approach which is sensitive to the reality of delivering dental care to patients and which supports preventive care, rather than works against it.”

Rosie Winterton, the health minister, said: “The overall picture is that, despite the speculation, the number of dentists is growing and rather than leaving they are actually keen to expand their work for the NHS – hardly indicative of a failing system.”

Via The Telegraph