More people in south Essex have access to an NHS dentist, thanks to an injection of cash from the Government.

NHS South Essex has been given £711,000 to improve access to NHS dentists and promote oral health after successfully bidding for the cash.

The funding has been used to ensure more people have access to an NHS dentist at practices across the area.

Ian Stidston, director of primary care at NHS South Essex, says: “This is fantastic news for people who couldn’t access NHS dental treatment before.

“We have used the money to make sure that NHS Dental Services are available to those who need them. This means local people will have healthier teeth, and will be less likely to suffer from long-term dental problems.”

The funding has enabled NHS South Essex to increase the number of units of dental activity - effectively the number of courses of NHS treatment carried out - at some NHS dental practices in south Essex so they are now accepting and treating new patients.

We are now able to offer an extra 30,300 units of dental activity, bringing the total to 1,261,410 available in south Essex.

The extra funding is part of the Government’s drive to improve oral health and increase access to NHS dentists.