Access to NHS dental care in Northern Ireland is in crisis.

Over the past decade, the number of adults registered with an NHS dentist has fallen dramatically — with only around half of adults now registered. In just the last year alone, registrations have dropped by more than 17%, while dental treatment levels remain over a third below pre-pandemic figures.

This is not just a statistic — it is a growing public health emergency. Families are struggling to access routine check-ups, preventative care is being missed, and more people are being forced to seek urgent treatment only when problems become severe.

Patients are also being caught out by registration rules, with many losing access simply because they have not attended within a set period — even when access itself is limited.

This cannot go on.

We call on the Minister of Health to:

• Deliver an action plan to stabilise and rebuild NHS dentistry
• Reform the current dental payment model to ensure sustainability
• Improve access to affordable NHS dental care for all patients
• Address barriers preventing people from registering and staying registered with a dentist
  
  

Sign this petition to demand urgent action and protect NHS dental services for everyone in Northern Ireland.