New research has revealed that 64,350 children in Somerset were not seen by an NHS dentist last year.

The House of Commons Library research, commissioned by the Liberal Democrats, has estimated the number of children who weren't seen by an NHS dentist in the year to March 2024.

This is based on the latest data from the health service.

The findings suggest that 57.66 per cent of children in Somerset were not seen by an NHS dentist in the past year.

The NHS recommends under-18s have a dental check-up at least once a year because their teeth can decay faster.

Tooth decay is the leading cause of hospital admissions for children aged six to 10.

Liberal Democrat MP for Glastonbury and Somerton, Sarah Dyke, has called for an end to 'dental deserts', describing the figures as a 'damning indictment' of the Conservative party's handling of local health services.

Ms Dyke said: "I have heard countless stories of desperate parents who cannot find an NHS dentist anywhere in Somerset.

"Everyone knows how important it is for children to be able to see a dentist.

"In our area, far too often, that is proving impossible."

She added: "The Conservative party’s disastrous legacy on the NHS cannot be understated.

"The new government must make fixing local health services like dentistry here in Somerset a top priority after the Conservatives ran them into the ground.

"The only way we will rescue dentistry in our area is by the government investing in local health services at the Budget and bringing an end to dental deserts so that every child in Somerset can see a dentist when they need to."

The Liberal Democrats are calling for an emergency rescue plan for NHS dentistry, including more appointments and the removal of VAT on children’s toothbrushes and toothpaste.