MORE than half of adults across Dorset have not been to a dentist in the last two years, figures show.

The British Dental Association said access to dental practices has collapsed across England, and warned the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the nation’s oral health will be felt “for years to come”.

Figures from NHS Digital show 150,716 people aged 18 and over were seen by a dentist or orthodontist in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole in the two years to the end of December.

The figures for the Dorset Council area was 133,075.

In the two years to December 31 2019, 167,989 adults were seen by dentists in Bournemouth,Christchurch and Poole and 154,256 in the rest of Dorset.

Across England, just 45 per cent of adults were seen in 2019 and 2020.

Though dental practices resumed face-to-face care in June last year, the BDA said the gaps required between patient appointments to prevent transmission have “radically reduced” capacity.

It is calling on the Government to invest in mechanical ventilation to help increase patient numbers safely.

This has already been done in Wales and Northern Ireland.

Eddie Crouch, chairman of the British Dental Association, said: “Access has collapsed, public health programmes suspended, and many practices have been pushed to the brink.

“Serious investment in prevention is needed now, alongside real support for the services millions depend on.”

The maximum recommended interval for children is shorter, at just 12 months, and the NHS figures show fewer under-18s are also being seen by dentists than normal due to the pandemic.

Just 32 per cent of children in Bournemouth, Chistchurch and Poole and 27 per cent in the Dorset Council area were seen by a dentist last year.

The BDA warned the impact of sugar-rich lockdown diets, poor access to care and the suspension of public health programmes – many of which are school-run – will come at a “terrible cost” to the most deprived communities.

Mr Crouch said the “shameful inequalities” between the dental health of the rich and the poor will only widen unless the Government intervenes.

NHS figures also show 2.8 million courses of treatment were delivered across England in the second quarter of the 2020-21 financial year, up from just 400,000 the previous quarter.

A Department of Health and Social care spokesman said the Government was encouraging the food and drink industry to reduce sugar, and will ban TV adverts before 9pm for certain unhealthy foods.

He added: “We are supporting the dental sector and continue to work in lockstep with the NHS to safely increase patient numbers across England.”