The approach UK Governments past and present have taken to covering costs has fuelled the crisis we face. It’s eaten into goodwill that’s in very short supply, and left thousands of NHS practices struggling to stay afloat.

“These investments show this government is serious about rebuilding NHS dentistry,” says DH. The gap between rhetoric and reality is clear. There is still no new money to underpin the rebuild. Not even to cover new activity for these overseas qualified dentists to deliver.

The responsibility - or lack thereof - rests with Rachel Reeves and HMT.

Thanks @libdems.org.uk and @helenmorganlibdem.bsky.social From think tanks to select committees, it’s very clear to everyone that’s looked at what’s really fuelling this crisis that fundamental reform must go hand in hand with sustainable funding. It’s not an either/or. @thebda.bsky.social

Pleased to hear @adrianramsay.bsky.social speaking this morning @bbcnorfolk.bsky.social highlighting issues for NHS Dentistry this morning Training local students part of the solution with more funding and contract reform also important @thebda.bsky.social

These horrific statistics are a badge of dishonour for governments past and present. Supervised brushing is important progress, but Ministers need to invest in restoring access to care.

What the evidence really says on 🇬🇧 British teeth vs the 🇺🇸 Hollywood Smile…

US 'experts' have described oral health in Britain as 'Third World'. 📈Yes, inequalities are widening. 🇺🇸But in the US working age adults are missing more teeth. 🇬🇧The UK Govt will decide whether we end up becoming an Austin Powers cliché. Our letter to the editor of @thetimes.com

🦷Why is it so hard to find an NHS dentist? 📻A must-listen state of the nation. 🎤Answers from by BDA Chair @eddiecrouch.bsky.social, Consultant Tom Thayer and @dentalhealthorg.bsky.social's Rachael England on BBC R4 Inside Health. 👉 https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002r3nn

"Create a caricature of an NHS dentist based on everything you know about the role..." Undervalued. Overstretched. We've spelled out to the facts time and again. Government needs to show it's ready to act on them.

"It's a stupid system," says @eddiecrouch.bsky.social An inflexible contract means that if a practice has capacity - while others in the area are actually reducing NHS work - that funding can't be kept on the frontline. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd7z7x0w95go

A real privilege to take Tony and his family to Westminster. All too often dentistry has been treated as Cinderella service, a low priority that can’t compete with ‘life and death’ issues. Oral cancer demonstrates how high the stakes can be and that this profession can be life savers.

Thanks to Minister for Care @skinnock.bsky.social and Chief Dental Officer for England Jason Wong for attending our Q&A session on NHS #dentistry in Parliament today. The packed room shows the strength of feeling in Parliament on this crucial issue.

“Soundbites are all well and good" says @eddiecrouch.bsky.social "But what tens of millions of our patients need is real commitment, underpinned by sustainable investment.” https://www.bda.org/news-and-opinion/news/primary-care-bodies-unite-to-take-fight-for-financial-security-future-to-parliament/

Pleasure to meet @leepitcher.baky.social in Parliament. Thank you for your support as we call for urgent investment in NHS dentistry and other parts of primary care. @thebda.bsky.social

Thank you for a constructive discussion on what can be done both locally and nationally to end the dental desert in Cornwall. @benmaguiremp.bsky.social We’ll support you in any way we can as you stand up for your constituents’ right to see an NHS dentist @thebda.bsky.social

Great to speak to @pauldaviesmp.bsky.social today about why access to NHS dentistry is a crucial issue, morally, economically and politically. We need urgency and ambition to ensure everyone who needs to see an NHS dentist can do so. @thebda.bsky.social

Real life impact of the careless words from a world leader @mrjamesob.bsky.social www.facebook.com/share/v/1DTU...

We have not sent any Christmas Cards this year as my wife is engaged in lots of work with the Homeless and we have donated the money on cards stamps and postage to this worthy cause. I hope you understand. But wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and best wishes for 2026.

“Hard won gains on oral health are going into reverse," says @eddiecrouch.bsky.social “Government need to double down - and deliver promised reforms and vital investment." https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/dentists-england-survey-rotting-aohs-b2880872.html

Thank you @rachelgilmourld.bsky.social for your valued support @thebda.bsky.social

Your help has been extremely influential in raising the issues politically albeit the politicians all tell me their email boxes are full of nhs dental issues more than many other problems This is not difficult to resolve with fractions of nhs spend Thank you @thebda.bsky.social

Lovely to catch-up with @simonforstroud.bsky.social just now. As a GP, he gets the pressures primary care professionals are facing. Thank you for your ongoing support in pressing for urgent reform and investment into NHS dentistry.

Listening to @mrjamesob.bsky.social show this morning with the aside comments to the Knesset Speeches took me back to the days of Wogan and Eurovision .Only this time it was pointing out the untruths and sad subject matter that made it less entertaining But thanks James

“NHS dentistry has ceased to exist for millions of families," says @eddiecrouch.bsky.social "Warm words won’t solve this - only real investment and meaningful reform will.” Sign here if you agree: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/fund-nhs-dentistry-now

Great to catch up with the force of nature that is @rachelgilmourld.bsky.social Pleased to hear about progress in access to urgent dental care secured locally, but I know you won’t rest until everyone who needs an NHS dentist in can access one always happy to assist @thebda.bsky.social

Grateful to @helenmaguiremp.bsky.social for meeting to discuss the way forward for NHS dentistry. We spoke particularly about how NHS access is affecting military families and colleagues delivering care to new recruits @thebda.bsky.social

Great to sit down with @johnmilnehorsham.bsky.social to highlight how underfunding is pushing NHS dentistry to breaking point. Dentists want to provide NHS care, but the system makes it unsustainable. For the sake of our patients, this must change.

Thank you @clivejonesmp.bsky.social for your time and support in our fight to make NHS dentistry available to all those who need it. Too many people are left without access to essential care because the system is broken. @thebda.bsky.social

Lovely to meet @mariecgoldman.bsky.social in Bournemouth to talk about improving access to NHS dentists. Dentistry should not be a luxury or an optional extra, it’s an essential part of healthcare.

Great to speak to Claire Young MP @claireyoungmp.bsky.social about how unsustainable and unfair NHS dentistry is for both dentists and patients. We can’t fix this system without reform and adequate funding. @thebda.bsky.social

Pleasure to meet @ldbrianmathewmp.bsky.social at @LibDemConf to talk about what needs to be done to end the crisis in access to NHS dentistry in Wiltshire and across the country. @thebda.bsky.social

Started off a busy day at @LibDems.org.uk speaking at a panel on the cost of accessing dentistry for patients with chronic conditions. I argued that unless and until we reform and properly fund NHS dentistry, discussions about cost will unfortunately remain, for too many people, purely academic.

“Supervised brushing is a tried-and-tested policy that we back 100%" says @eddiecrouch.bsky.social "But Ministers must ensure the funding and reform are in place so kids can get the care they need.” https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/health/free-toothbrushes-schools-across-england-35905840

Nice to meet @chriswebbmp.bsky.social in Parliament to talk about our shared ambition to deliver access to NHS dentistry to all those who need it, and how best to achieve it. Very grateful for your time and support on this crucial issue.

A useful meeting today with @chrismcdonaldmp.bsky.social , discussing the need for urgency and ambition in reforming NHS dentistry, for the sake of people of Stockton and millions of others currently unable to access the care they need.

Pleasure to meet with @johnwhitbymp.bsky.social today, to discuss the need to get on with dental reform and ensure dentistry gets its fair share of the extra money the Government gave the NHS at the Spending Review. Thank you for your time and support.

Lovely to speak to @rachelgilmourld.bsky.social about delays in rolling out extra urgent appointments & the need for more urgency in overhauling the failed NHS dental contract. Thanks for continuing to fight for the change your constituents - and millions of others - desperately need.

"By 2035, the NHS dental system will be transformed." That's the promise in the NHS 10 Year Plan. Ministers have pledged to begin work this year fixing a failed contract. They've made the right diagnosis. But we can’t wait a decade for them to write the prescription.

Nice to meet @bambosmp.bsky.social today to discuss the challenges facing NHS dentistry in Southgate and Wood Green & across the country. We welcome the Government’s commitment to bold action to end the crisis in our sector. Your constituents and our patients deserve no less. @thebda.bsky.social

Pleasure to meet @joplatt.bsky.social to discuss the crisis in NHS dentistry. We welcome the Government’s promise for reform the dental contract. They must deliver on it without delay - the millions of people unable to get the care they need cannot afford to wait any longer @thebda.bsky.social

🏛️ We're in @ukparliament.parliament.uk launching our latest report - Boosting Early Years Nutrition to Support a Healthy Childhood! Speakers include Neil Leitch of @eyalliance.bsky.social @eddiecrouch.bsky.social and @teamlabouruk.bsky.social MP @mayaellismp.bsky.social 🔗 bit.ly/3SwvgY6

Pleasure to meet @mayaellismp.bsky.social this morning @foodfoundation.bsky.social report launch this morning Look forward to further discussions on NHS Dentistry in the future @thebda.bsky.social

Great pleasure to speak this morning with @perranmoonmp.bsky.social about the issues facing his constituents in Cornwall a true dental desert, and ideas on what needs to change urgently to help @thebda.bsky.social

But a recent agreement in the North East to extend there and more promised

Pleasure to meet @melanieonnmp.bsky.social MP in Parliament today to talk about the crisis in NHS dentistry. Thank you for securing a debate on this crucial issue next week. @thebda.bsky.social

Probably the most cynical, manipulative form of words you’ll read this week. A stark reminder of why we can’t go on like this.

Real change requires government action…

Pleasure speaking to East Mids Branch @thebda.bsky.social last night. Talking through important work this week with BBC Panorama A real opportunity here for Government to deliver on its promise on prevention. you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/make…

Nice to meet @elsieblundellmp.bsky.social today in Parliament to discuss issues surrounding NHS Dentistry and how improvements can be made @thebda.bsky.social