Where can I find an NHS dentist? Sunderland resident’s most pressing question
Written by Jessica Martin on 13th October 2026
Many Sunderland residents have taken to social media to voice their concerns about the current NHS dental crisis.
Sunderland community Facebook group has been flooded with users all trying to find the same thing, a coveted NHS dental appointment. Recently the UK, and especially the North East, has been going through a crisis, with very few dental practises taking on new NHS patients. According to a survey, from 2023 and 2024 by NHS north east and north Cumbria Healthwatch, 40% of North East residents said they had no dentist.
So how has this effected local people?
After identifying this topic as a prevalent issue in the local area, we put out a call on Facebook for users to share their experiences. One concerned participant commented: “The dentist in our village closed and opened up further into Sunderland. I transferred to one on Newcastle Road (which is) also closing and going into town, no-one is taking NHS (patients), so for our next appointment its a bus and a walk.”
Another North East resident stated: “My NHS dentist closed in 2022. No patients were transferred to another NHS dentist. I now need four fillings at a cost of £1000 privately.” There were numerous responses expressing unhappiness with the NHS dental system, including a someone who told us they “can’t get an NHS dentist and need one urgently I’ve tried for over a year.”
What is being done locally by the NHS to better the situation?
When asked for a comment on the situation, a spokesperson for the NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) said: “We know that it is difficult for people to access NHS dental services at the moment. The situation in our region is mirrored across the country and is caused by a number of issues, including difficulties recruiting and training dentists and many dentists struggling to afford the cost of delivering NHS services.”
The ICB also mentioned they had “recently invested £9.5m on a new model of care, launching a network of 23 Urgent Dental Access Centres (UDACs) to provide almost 109,000 urgent dental appointments every year.” The nearest UDACs for Sunderland residents are in the city centre and Fulwell.
People can find out more about accessing NHS dentistry and book a UDAC appointment at: https://northeastnorthcumbria.nhs.uk/here-to-help-you/nhs-dentistry/get-urgent-dental-care/
