December 2025: All you need to know about dentistry in Reading

Access to NHS dental care continues to be one of the main issues we hear about from Reading locals but it's an issue that is also affecting people across the whole of the UK.

We've put together a Q&A to help you understand what is happening and what to do if you need an NHS dentist in Reading.

I am looking for an NHS dentist.

Currently, no dentists are accepting new NHS patients across Reading.

Many dental practices have very long waiting lists. You can join more than one dental waiting list.

Where can I check to find out if dentists are taking on NHS patients?

• You can visit or phone local dental practices to see if they are taking on NHS patients.

• You can also find a list of dentists taking on more patients on the NHS website: https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/other-services

• You can also visit the Dental Choices website – this is not part of the NHS but also lists NHS dentists taking on new NHS patients to their waiting lists:

http://dentalchoices.org/find-a-dentist

• You can call NHS England’s Customer Contact Centre on 0300 311 2233 and they may be able to help you find the nearest dentist accepting NHS patients, but you may be asked to travel some distance to get an appointment.

I have an urgent dental issue or emergency but no dentist, what do

I do?

You can:

• Phone NHS 111. They can book an emergency appointment for you.

• Phone any local NHS dentist and ask if they can give you a one-off NHS dental appointment. It is not possible to request treatment by e-mail.

• Book urgent or emergency dental appointments only with the dental practices listed below.

Booking yourself an urgent or emergency dental appointment locally:

These dental appointments are not for routine dental care/checkups. They are for urgent or emergency dental appointments only. The dental practices that can help you with your urgent or emergency are listed below.

If you do not have an NHS dentist but you or a love one, fall under one of the groups listed below, you can book routine care/checkups, have on-going treatment and urgent appointments with the dentists listed below:

NHS urgent dental care is for:

• People who have not attended a dental practice for two years

• People who have relocated to the area

• Looked After Children

• Families of Armed Forces personnel

• Asylum Seekers and refugees

• Those with clinical/medical need that requires attendance at a dental practice

• Patients who need dental check-ups in support of hospital treatment

• Pregnant and nursing mothers

• Residents of care homes with identified treatment need who are able to attend the dental practice for treatment

• Patients seen under the Urgent and Non-Urgent Unscheduled Dental Access Appointments scheme who need and wish to attend for further stabilisation treatment

  
  

The dental clinics listed below offer free NHS appointments for urgent or emergency dental needs (through special funding).

Call early in the morning to book and say Healthwatch Reading referred you.

You can attend any of these practices, even if you live in Reading – travel is allowed to other areas of Berkshire West.

Wokingham Borough:

• Winnersh Dental Practice, Wokingham – 0118 978 6385

• Loddon Bridge Road Dental Practice, Woodley – 0118 969 2935

Reading:

• University Dental Centre – 0118 975 9660

• Inspire Dental Practice – 0118 957 4516

• Bespoke/Gentle Dental, Tilehurst – 0118 945 2900 / 5555

West Berkshire:         

• Baldev's Dental Care, Newbury – 01635 49999

• Newbury Dental Practice – 01635 31624

• Dental Partners Thatcham – 01635 863644

Community dental services

This service is for children and people who can't access regular dental care due to:

• Disabilities, phobias, special needs, language barriers, or clinical issues.

Care may be provided in hospitals, clinics, mobile units, or via home visits.

Call NHS England on 0300 311 2233 to learn more and to book an appointment with a community dentist.

For more information on local dentistry, please visit the organisation that commissions local health services, BOB ICB's website: Dentists | BOB ICB

What is Healthwatch Reading doing about the dental crisis?

We're in regular contact with NHS England - South East Dental and NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board (BOB ICB) to get the latest information on local dental services.

BOB ICB has responsibility for planning and funding NHS services for local people across Berkshire West, which includes Reading locals and dentistry services.

NHS England - South East Dental deliver the dentistry service to you and Reading locals.

Healthwatch Reading is an independent statutory body which means we have the power to make sure NHS leaders and other decision-makers listen to your feedback.

We ask locals to share their views, concerns and experiences on dentistry services. We then share your experiences anonymously with the teams mentioned above, and other local groups, so that they know the local issues, the impact of the crisis, and how to make change to local services.

What is Healthwatch England doing to help?

The new Labour Government has proposed a Dentistry Rescue Plan, which has the potential to improve access to NHS dental appointments in the short-term.  But in the long-term, Healthwatch believes more fundamental reforms are needed.

From 5 July 2024 onwards, Healthwatch England is sharing the latest evidence with the incoming Labour Government and will continue to work constructively with Department of Health and Social Care officials, and NHS England's Chief Dental Officer, as they prepare to implement the Rescue Plan and consider longer-term reforms.

The dentistry feedback you share with us is sent to Healthwatch England and used as evidence for the Government to help improve dental services locally and nationally.

Click here to read more about the work of Healthwatch trying to get dental reform nationally.

Share your views on local dentistry

Have your voice heard and help to improve local services. Tell us what you think about local dental services (good or bad) or if you are unable to get the treatment that you need:

Call: 0118 214 5579

Email: info@healthwatchreading.co.uk

Online: click here to complete a short online form.