Latest data from NHS England and NHS Wales shows more than 2,500 dentists — up to eight per cent of the workforce — stopped treating NHS patients last year.

The worst-affected was NHS Portsmouth CCG, which lost 26 per cent of its NHS dentists over 12 months.

The Isle of Wight falls under the Hampshire, Southampton and Isle of Wight CCG.

The area had 823 dentists in 2019 but that number fell to 768 in 2020 and to 719 in 2021.

That's a loss of 49 dentists in the past year, or a six per cent loss.

The data shows at least one town in England has been unable to attract a single applicant for vacant NHS dentist posts for two years.

The British Dental Association (BDA) said unhappiness with the NHS dental contract was a key factor.

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