‘1 in 5 dentists will go bust with no govt support’

ONE in five dentists are on the brink of collapse as the ban on routine work has left practices financially crippled.

The closures could leave many patients without a dentist, the British Dental Association has warned.

In a BDA poll of 2,800 practices, 71% said they could

stay financially stable for three months at most, while 20% said they would not survive past this month.

Less than a third said they will be able to return to previous levels of patient access when they reopen.

A quarter have tried to get a government-backed loan,

but 93% were turned down. Nearly half of those who were denied have sought highinterest commercial loans.

Dentists with more private than NHS patients are most at risk of ruin, the BDA said.

Chair Mick Armstrong said: “Many practices are weeks from a cliff edge, saddling

themselves with debt they may never be able to repay.

“It was right to suspend all non-urgent care, but without meaningful support dental services face decimation. Nearly every surgery relies on private care to stay afloat.

“The impact will be felt by patients in every community.”