Our response to Royal College of Surgeons report on improving older people's oral health

The report warns that at least 1.8 million older people could have an urgent dental condition, and highlights the significant impact that poor oral health can have on an older person’s general health and wellbeing.

Responding to Improving older people’s oral health, Deputy Director of Healthwatch England, Neil Tester, said:

“Access to an NHS dentist is a very real problem for many people receiving care support, with some local Healthwatch reporting care home residents in their patch are more likely to see a hairdresser than a dentist.

“If people don’t get the help they need to maintain a healthy mouth then they can suffer unnecessary pain, struggle to eat enough and develop problems talking which can increase their chances of social isolation.

“As our 2016 dental report shows local Healthwatch are already doing their bit raising this issue around the country but we need the health and care system as a whole to be more joined up in how it commissions and regulates dental services so that people who cannot easily get to see a high street dentist don’t fall between the gaps.”