Access to dental care in Luton

Healthwatch Luton carried out engagement on dentistry by using feedback cards distributed at community events across the town together with a programme of telephone calls to local dental practices. The feedback cards gathered the public’s experiences of accessing NHS dental care, while the practice calls were designed to understand current availability, waiting times, and barriers to registration directly from providers.  They spoke to 253 people.

NHS dental care remains one of the most significant local challenges. Many people reported repeated attempts to register with a dentist, with some waiting months or even years for an NHS appointment. Others described turning to private care, travelling outside the area, or using emergency dental services as a last resort. 

Calls made to dental practices across Luton reinforced these concerns. Two-thirds of practices were not accepting new NHS patients, while around one in five accepted children only. A small number indicated that they were reviewing NHS capacity but were unable to confirm when new spaces might become available. Staff shortages, high demand, and limited NHS contract scope were common reasons given for restricted access. 

Despite these barriers, the majority of patients rated their dental treatment as helpful or very helpful once seen, showing that care quality remains high even when access is limited. However, the ongoing mismatch between public demand and provider capacity continues to affect confidence and equity in dental provision. 

Healthwatch Luton will continue to monitor NHS dental availability, share updated access information with the public, and work with commissioners to review local capacity and contract distribution. Further research will explore how workforce pressures, communication, and cost affect access, supporting a coordinated approach to improving availability and patient experience across the borough.