For many, including myself, securing a local dentist under the NHS has become a longstanding struggle. Having moved, I discovered the shocking reality of dental care in the UK - no dentist within my area would accept new NHS patients. Now, four years into my continuous effort, neither progress nor an NHS dentist are in sight.

The access to dentistry has been shamefully restricting, forcing countless people like me to opt for private practices, an extravagant expense not all can bear. This is a grim reflection of the situation faced by many of the 56.6 million people who are eligible for NHS dentistry services in England alone as per the 2019 statistics (source: NHS Digital).

We ought to remember that accessible and adequate dental care is not a luxury, but a necessity that should be available to all, regardless of their socio-economic status. The current scenario contradicts the founding principles of our beloved National Health Service, which envisioned healthcare "free at the point of delivery" and "based on clinical need, not the ability to pay".

This petition seeks the attention of the authorities to improve the availability of NHS dental service and reduce the growing dependency on costly private dentistry. We urge our policymakers to review the funding of dental practices, make the necessary legal alterations, and increase subsidisation, ultimately making dentistry a feasible part of the NHS again.

Your signature could be the stepping stone towards restoring justice in dental healthcare in the UK. So, join us in creating a healthier future which allows equal access to dental healthcare for everyone. Let's make dentists NHS again! Sign the petition today.