Women are hit hardest by UK dental health crisis

A report from the Women’s Institute (WI) reveals that women are being hit hardest by a lack of access to NHS dental care.

As published in the British Dental Journal (BDJ), the report “Investigating the Gendered Impacts of the Dental Health Crisis” highlights the experiences of women – often the primary caregivers for their families – struggling to access dental care. It demonstrates the ways in which women have sacrificed their own health to support loved ones, and the unique oral health challenges facing women.

Produced from a survey of around 1,000 members of the WI, the research reveals that a lack of NHS dental access is having an impact on women in the UK.

Key findings from the report show that women are:

• Sacrificing seeing a dentist in order to afford private dental care for their loved ones – as they are unable to access NHS care
• Self-medicating using, for example, online purchased temporary fillings, over the counter remedies, and high doses of painkillers to relieve oral pain
• Attending A&E for dental pain having been unable to access preventative care, including for severe infections
• Travelling as far as 250 miles around the UK and abroad for affordable dentistry
• Going to extreme measures to afford dental care including taking out loans, using credit cards, and downsizing their homes
• Missing out on dental care during pregnancy, and being unable to find a dentist willing to see their children as NHS patients

The WI is calling on the government to act on the impact on the NHS dental access on women, by reforming NHS contracts, increasing the NHS dental workforce, and make dental care affordable and accessible.

> Since you’re here, why not read about Fitness to Practice statistical report for 2024 published?

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