“A new government has inherited old problems, but luckily hasn’t followed in its predecessor’s footsteps by pretending this crisis has been solved.
“These numbers are a stark reminder we need urgency and ambition to save this service.”
The BDA analysis used data from the 2024 NHS GP Survey and population estimates from the Office for National Statistics.
Dennis Reed, director of over-60s campaign group Silver Voices, told the Daily Express that problems with accessing dentistry were a “long-standing saga”.
He added: “Our members have been complaining about this for at least two years.
“The thing that needs to be resolved is these ‘dental deserts’ where you can’t get an NHS dentist for love nor money.”
Mr Reed said he and his wife experienced problems themselves after moving to north Bristol 18 months ago to be closer to their grandchildren.
He explained: “We had an NHS dentist where we were before, but because we were new to the area there was no way we could get one.
“Our only alternative was to stump up for a private dentist. That’s just such a common story, that places aren’t taking on new NHS patients.
“Labour has promised a large number of emergency appointments but they need to prioritise those areas where there are no NHS dentists at all.”
The BDA said it had been encouraged by Health Secretary Wes Streeting’s acknowledgement that the NHS was “broken”.
The minister, who recently met with the association, was also said to have taken note of dentists’ dissatisfaction with elements of their contract, which has been blamed for an exodus of staff.
BDA chairman Eddie Crouch added: “We’re still seeing sights like ‘DIY’ dentistry that belong in the Victorian era.
“None of these horrors are inevitable, and the new Government can turn the page.
“Over a decade of underfunding and failed contracts has brought us here. A problem made in Westminster can be fixed in Westminster.”
Neil Carmichael, executive chairman of the Association of Dental Groups, said there was a “serious shortage” of dentists across the UK.
He added: “Some 5,000 vacancies across dentistry remain open but, according to the General Dental Council’s own figures, only a hundred or so registered dentists are seriously looking for opportunities.
“We simply must address the recruitment crisis by increasing the capacity of dental schools, enabling more international recruitment and encouraging teamwork.
“Recruitment impacts all parts of dentistry – NHS, private and community – so we must be more holistic in policy-making in order to ensure patients everywhere receive the care and treatment they deserve.”
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “It is unacceptable that so many people struggle to simply get a dental appointment, and these figures lay bare the scale of the situation. There are large parts of the country where NHS dentistry barely exists anymore.
“We will rebuild NHS dentistry, starting with an extra 700,000 emergency dentistry appointments. We will also reform the dental contract to encourage more dentists to offer NHS services to patients.
“Prevention is better than cure, so we will also introduce supervised tooth brushing for three to five-year-olds. These changes are fundamental to us building an NHS that is fit for the future.”