Nearly two-thirds of adults in Dorset haven't visited an NHS dentist in the past two years, according to figures.

Figures from NHS Digital's Dental Statistics showed that 231,498 adults saw their local NHS dentist in Dorset – just 37% of the over-18 population.

That represented a fall from 42% in the 24 months to June 2021, which saw dental activity first hampered by the pandemic, and a drop from 52% in the two years to June 2019.

The British Dental Association (BDA), a trade union for dentists, said the latest figures show NHS dentistry is "on its last legs" and in need of urgent change.

Separate figures from the NHS revealed that, in the year to March, a total of 368,694 courses of treatment were delivered to adults and children across Dorset.

This was more than double the 172,047 treatments delivered in 2020-21, but still 32% below the pre-pandemic figure of 540,821.

There are 363 NHS dentists working across the NHS in Dorset - meaning each one had the equivalent of 2,140 patients on their roster.

Eddie Crouch, chairman of the BDA, said: "What we're seeing isn't a recovery, but a service on its last legs.

"The Government will be fooling itself and millions of patients if it attempts to put a gloss on these figures.

"NHS dentistry is lightyears away from where it needs to be. Unless ministers step up and deliver much needed reform and decent funding, this will remain the new normal."

Across England, dentists carried out 26.4 million treatments in 2021-22, though the BDA said this is just two-thirds of the average volumes delivered annually in the five years prior to the pandemic – 39.4 million.

An NHS spokesman said: “The latest data show dental services are recovering post-pandemic, with over 26 million patient treatments delivered last year – up 120% from the year before, along with 1.7 million more children getting seen by an NHS dentist.

“To further support the ongoing restoration of NHS dentistry, we recently announced the first significant changes to dentistry since 2006, helping practices to improve access for the patients that need dental care the most.”

NHS Dorset was approached for comment.