Almost 50,000 children across Somerset have not been seen by an NHS dentist for at least a year.

New data has shown that 49,716 children had not been seen by a dentist in the year to June 2023, and that 250,086 adults across the county had not been seen in two years.

The relations emerged after research commissioned by the Liberal Democrats revealed the extent of the shortage of NHS dentists in Somerset.

Gideon Amos, the local Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate, said: “We called out the looming disaster when I began my campaign on dentists in Taunton and Wellington with a survey two years ago.

“This Conservative government has shown a total disregard for every aspect of our health service and the people of Somerset are bearing the brunt of it. Wherever you look, the NHS is crumbling. 

“This has to act as a wake-up call for the government. A rescue package for Somerset’s dentistry is urgently needed. That means reforming NHS dentistry to boost the number of appointments along with removing VAT on children’s toothbrushes and toothpaste.”