Nearly a quarter of Somerset residents are without a dentist, new figures have revealed, with the British Dental Association (BDA) warning that NHS dentistry has "effectively ceased to exist" for new patients.

Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that 24% of respondents in the NHS Somerset Integrated Care Board area do not have a dentist.

Of those surveyed, 30% reported having an NHS dentist, while 46% rely on private dental care.

Nationally, 13% of people aged 16 and over are without a dentist, with the issue disproportionately affecting the most deprived communities. Among the least deprived, 9% lack dental care, compared to 22% in the most deprived areas.

The crisis is particularly pronounced in the South West, where 115 people without a dentist tried to access NHS dental care in the month before being surveyed. Alarmingly, 97% of those attempts were unsuccessful.

BDA Chair Eddie Crouch said: "For new patients, NHS dentistry has effectively ceased to exist. Millions are struggling to access needed care, and those with the highest needs and lowest incomes are the hardest hit."

The BDA welcomed recent Government acknowledgements that NHS dentistry is "broken" but emphasised the need for urgent action. "A new Government has made the right noises, but deeds need to match words," Mr Crouch added.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care admitted the situation was "unacceptable" and outlined plans to rebuild the sector.

"It is unacceptable to this Government that so many people are struggling to find an NHS dentist. We are committed to rebuilding the sector, but it will take time.

"We will start with an extra 700,000 urgent dentistry appointments to help those who need it most, and we will increase access by reforming the dental contract to make NHS work more appealing to dentists," the spokesperson said.

The figures reveal a stark inequality in dental care access across the region. Many Somerset residents, particularly in low-income households, face difficult choices between costly private dental services and going without essential care.

The BDA has called on the Government to address the issue as part of a "moral crusade" to close the oral health gap.

With the majority of unsuccessful attempts to secure NHS appointments occurring in the South West, the data highlights the urgent need for action to address the ongoing dental care crisis in Somerset and beyond.