New Dental Patient Status
Please read if you are a new dental patient wanting to join Torrington Dental Practice
Torrington Dental Practice is currently unable to accept new NHS patients
Our private waiting list is temporarily closed
We are able to accept patients for specific private treatments
Due to long-standing challenges within the NHS dental system, we have been operating at full capacity under our NHS contract for approximately 15 years, and unfortunately, no new patient places are currently available.
If you are experiencing dental pain, please contact us by phone or email. We may be able to offer a one-off private appointment, depending on cancellations and availability.
These appointments are prioritised for our existing patients, and only then can we offer them to non-registered patients.
If we can help, we will.
Please note – we are still accepting patients for specific private treatments, including:
- Dental Implants
- Restorative Dental Treatments
- Cosmetic Dentistry
Thank you for your understanding and continued support
NHS Dentistry
As you may have seen in the local and national press, there is an unprecedented demand for dental care at present. The shortage of NHS dentists is caused by a mixture of factors. As a practice, we are unable to take on new NHS patients in any capacity.
The difficulty in accessing NHS dental services is primarily due to a combination of factors:
- Funding and Contract Issues: The structure of the NHS dental contract can make it challenging for practices to maintain NHS dental care.
- Workforce Shortages: There is a shortage of dentists willing to work within the NHS due to the high demand and relatively lower financial incentives compared to private practice. This shortage is exacerbated by recruitment and retention issues.
- High Demand: There is an increasing demand for NHS dental services, which often outstrips the available supply.
- Impact of the Pandemic: Although the COVID-19 pandemic began some years ago. The temporary closure for months and reduced capacity during the pandemic contributed significantly to backlogs.
- Geographical Disparities: Access to NHS dental care can vary significantly depending on the region, with rural and certain urban areas facing greater shortages of NHS dental practices.
Private Dentistry
We, unfortunately, are unable to take on any new private patients at this time. We have recently had to temporarily close our wait list whilst we work through those already waiting for appointments. We hope our circumstances will change in the near future, and we would recommend getting in touch with us in around three months’ time or checking our website to see if our circumstances have changed.
We apologise that we cannot be of more assistance at this time.
Please email us at reception@torringtondental.co.uk or call us on 01805 623657 if you have any queries. Alternatively, use our contact form below.