The struggle to find NHS dental treatment in the region has today been laid bare, after an investigation found around half of our practices are not able to offer an appointment.
We surveyed more than 100 dentists in Norfolk and Suffolk and found many are not able to see NHS patients until later in the year.
One even told our reporter to phone back in April 2016 if we wanted to see someone.
The same problem did not apply to more expensive private treatment, which was available in a matter of weeks at many of the surgeries we surveyed.
Today, frustrated dentists said the matter was out of their hands, blaming an NHS dental contract system which means they can only treat a certain number of people per year, before they have to close their books.
South Norfolk dentist and secretary of Norfolk Local Dental Committee, Nick Stolls, said: 'I really sympathise with patients who struggle to find a dentist, but it is frustrating for us too. It is a shambles of a contract.'
We used the NHS Choices website, which lists both NHS and private surgeries, to survey 20 dental practices in seven parts the region – Norwich, King's Lynn, Lowestoft, Cromer, Diss, Dereham and Great Yarmouth.
Of the 140 results, 67 practices are not accepting new, fee-paying adult NHS patients, with 65 not accepting patients who get treatment free, which includes expectant mothers and those on certain benefits. Some 55 were not accepting new child patients on the NHS.
When we followed up the survey by ringing 18 of the surgeries, one suggested we book a private dental appointment because it would be 'massively quicker than the NHS', another explained they had no availability for appointments, NHS or private, until the end of September, one said we should 'ring back in April', while another told us they were extremely short staffed and this was preventing them from offering appointments quickly.
Some surgeries said their waiting lists were the same for private and NHS patients.
Hannah Roberts, a 22-year-old musical theatre graduate from Lessingham, told of her struggle to get an appointment with a dentist.
She said: 'When I was at university I was still signed up to the dentist back home in Norfolk, when I came back I started getting bad toothaches so I tried to see my local dentist.
'They said it could take more than three months to get seen. Within that time, the tooth I had a minor problem with cracked and fell out and I now need an emergency appointment.
'I feel disappointed – if it hadn't been a long waiting time I could have prevented what happened.'
Under the current system, which has been in place since 2006, NHS England commissions a fixed number of appointments to surgeries for that year. Dentists say they have more patients than available appointments and if they were to meet the demand and go over the cap, it would cost them money.
We found there is no waiting list system at many surgeries, or preferential treatment for those who may regularly attend that surgery.
Mr Stolls said there was no effective system in the region to ensure allocation of NHS treatment could be moved around to meet demand. A spokesman from the British Dental Association (BDA) added: 'Most of the problems arise out of the perverse nature of a target-driven system that is not based on patients' needs, but on the budgets determined by the government.'
Chief executive of Health Watch Norfolk, Alex Stewart, said: 'Many dentists told us that they have the capacity to do more work but NHS England are not commissioning that work.'
Commenting on our findings, a spokesman for NHS England (East), said: 'Dental patients are not registered with an NHS dentist in the same way that they are with a GP practice. NHS dental patients are free to seek treatment from any dentist accepting NHS patients who have capacity to see them. This system now provides more options for patients seeking NHS treatment, meaning they are not now just restricted to receiving treatment from one dentist in their area.
'The rural nature of parts of East Anglia may affect people's ability to access dental services. Some patients do choose to access non-NHS services for a variety of reasons. However, across East Anglia access to dental services is generally good although uptake is not always high. In addition not everyone wishes to visit a dentist on a regular basis and some may only require care when they have a problem.
'Most patients in East Anglia report that they are able to find an NHS dentist when they want one and the vast majority are satisfied with the service they receive.
'NHS England would welcome the opportunity to review the survey undertaken to understand the specific areas of concern relating to accessing NHS services in the local area.'
Do you have an issue for our Investigations Unit? Contact David Powles on 01603 772478 or email david.powles@archant.co.uk
NHS CHOICES
Our investigation found that another problem for people looking for a dentist in the area is the seemingly misleading information on the NHS Choices website.
The online signposting service, launched in 2007, helps patients to find dental practices which are accepting new, NHS patients.
However, when we rang 18 Norfolk and Suffolk practices to check on their availability, five said they were not currently accepting NHS patients, although they were listed as doing so on NHS Choices.
Mr Stolls said: 'NHS Choices is a chaotic system. The opportunity for practices to update their entries on the site has only just been granted in Norfolk.
'For it to work there needs to be constant communication, but unfortunately there simply is not someone whose job it is to phone around all of the practices in the county.'
A recent Which? consumer survey found that four in ten people would use NHS Choices to find dental services in their area. It also found that of 500 surgeries advertised as accepting new patients on the site, 37% subsequently said they did not have availability.
NHS England did not comment on this issue when approached by our reporter.
CHILDREN'S DECAY WARNING
One dental practice in North Walsham which is accepting NHS patients has issued a warning to parents over tooth decay in young children.
Terrace House Dental Surgery is urging parents to take advantage of free NHS fluoride varnish treatment.
They say low fluoride levels in North Walsham's water supply means that residents are more susceptible to tooth decay.
Patients should call 01692 405891 or visit www.mydentist.co.uk to make an appointment.
HOW IT WORKS
Everyone in the United Kingdom is entitled to NHS dental treatment and some are entitled to it for free.
Free treatment is available for under 18s, over 18s in full-time education, pregnant women, women who have had a baby in the last 12 months and people on certain benefits.
Otherwise you will have to pay for any check ups or treatment, with routine appointments costing £18.80.
The NHS system doesn't work in the same way as registering with a GP practice, dental patients are free to seek treatment from any dentist accepting NHS patients who have capacity to see them.
Private treatment does not have set charges, so the costs will vary from practice to practice. It is often much more expensive than the NHS.
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