Dental Services
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many patients were treated by the Community Dental Service in each year since 2010-11.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock
We do not hold data at a national level on the number of Community Dental Service (CDS) referrals or activity delivered. However, data may be held at a CDS provider or integrated care board (ICB) level.
We recognise that certain groups of patients may be particularly vulnerable to oral health problems and may find it difficult to access dental care. Specialised dental services are in place to provide dental treatment and are commissioned by ICBs.
The January 2025 Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) report on CDS highlighted several known challenges in the operation and monitoring of CDS and offered recommendations for improvements. The majority of recommendations in the GIRFT report related to operational considerations for individual ICBs to address, which varies according to local arrangements, priorities, and needs.
NHS England and the Department have taken the recommendations on board and are working to improve the data reporting process to increase oversight of CDS activity, including current waiting lists and performance reporting. An amended waiting list data collection was implemented in August 2025 and will improve oversight of the current waiting lists and waiting times for adults and children.
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