Dental Care in Barnet

Healthwatch Barnet commissioned Home-Start Barnet to investigate the attitudes, experiences and access to dental services among young parents and families with young children in Barnet. The study gathered feedback from 56 families through questionnaires, interviews, focus groups, newsletters and social media engagement. The research focused on dental habits, access to NHS dentistry and experiences of local dental services. 

The report found that most parents recognised the importance of good dental health and generally demonstrated positive dental habits. Sixty-three per cent of parents attended dental check-ups at least annually, 75% brushed their teeth twice a day and 68% regularly used mouthwash. However, a minority of parents only visited the dentist when necessary or did not attend at all, often because of cost, difficulty finding an NHS dentist, previous negative experiences or embarrassment about their dental health.

Access to NHS dental services was identified as a significant concern. More than one in five respondents reported that they did not have access to an NHS dentist within walking distance of their home, while almost 10% said they found it difficult to find an NHS dentist willing to accept new patients. One-third of parents also reported difficulties obtaining dental appointments. These issues were viewed as particularly challenging for families with young children who may have limited transport options. 

The findings suggested that parents generally promoted positive dental habits among their children. Seventy-seven per cent of children were helped to brush their teeth at least twice daily, and most children began brushing before the age of two. However, the report found that children were often introduced to dental services later than recommended. Only 15% of children had visited a dentist before their first birthday, while nearly half first attended a dentist between the ages of three and four. 

Although more than 60% of children attended regular dental check-ups, almost 20% had already required dental treatment. This raised concerns about the effectiveness of preventive oral health measures and highlighted the importance of earlier engagement with dental care.

The report also explored families’ eating and drinking habits. Many parents reported frequent consumption of sugary snacks, with 45% eating sweets, cakes, chocolates or biscuits once or twice a week and 29% consuming them three or four times a week. Although nearly half of respondents never drank fizzy drinks, a minority consumed them frequently. Researchers concluded that there was a continuing need to improve understanding of the effects of sugar on oral health. 

Experiences of dental practices were generally positive. Eighty-six per cent of parents considered their dental practice child-friendly, over 90% described staff as friendly and 95% felt their dentist took sufficient time to explain treatment and care options. 

The report highlighted several wider issues based on participant observations. Some parents felt that access criteria for orthodontic treatment were difficult to understand, not all dental practices offered child-friendly facilities such as space for buggies, and some migrant or transient families did not prioritise dental care unless an emergency arose. There were also concerns that private treatment was sometimes promoted before NHS options were discussed. 

Overall, Healthwatch Barnet concluded that families generally valued oral health and had positive experiences once they accessed dental services. However, barriers remained around awareness, accessibility, appointment availability and early engagement with dental care for children. The report recommended increasing oral health education, particularly around diet and sugar consumption, improving awareness and visibility of NHS dental services among low-income and minority communities, ensuring dental practices are child-friendly, and encouraging parents to take children to the dentist at a younger age. 

NHS England’s London Region welcomed the findings and committed to sharing them with dental providers and local dental committees. It also highlighted plans to support oral health promotion work with local authorities and improve engagement with hard-to-reach and migrant communities.