NHS Launches New Dental Van to Improve Access to Care in Cornwall

Could This Van Fix Cornwall’s NHS Dentist Crisis?

A new dental van has been launched in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, aiming to bring NHS dentistry closer to some of the most vulnerable people in the county.

The service, commissioned by NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board (ICB) and run by Smile Together Dental CIC, is the first of its kind in the area. It will provide treatment to patients who have been waiting the longest for NHS dental care, as well as reaching remote communities.

What the Van Offers

The mobile unit provides examinations, treatment and urgent dental care by appointment. Patients also receive oral health packs containing toothbrushes, toothpaste and emergency contact numbers.

If emergency care is needed, the team can deliver immediate support and arrange a follow-up appointment. Those who have been waiting for an NHS dentist will be contacted when the van visits their area and invited to book an appointment.

Who It Will Reach

The dental van will also focus on supporting specific groups:

• Veterans in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, many of whom face oral health problems linked to their military service.

• Fishing communities, working in partnership with the Fishermen’s Mission, where long hours at sea and limited access to healthcare often mean dental needs go untreated.

Voices from the NHS and Smile Together

NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly ICB Chief Medical Officer Dr Chris Reid said:

“We have listened to people who tell us how important accessing an NHS dentist is to them.

This is just one of the proactive measures we are taking to bring NHS dentistry to residents across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. It demonstrates our commitment to the changes introduced in the NHS 10-year plan; moving from sickness to prevention and providing care closer to people’s homes.”

NHS England’s Chief Dental Officer for the South West Matthew Jerreat added:

“It’s fantastic that residents living in some of our most rural and far-flung areas will now be able to access an NHS dentist closer to home.

It’s another step in rebuilding access to NHS dentistry and in our long-term plans to improve oral health, especially in remote and deprived areas where people struggle most to get the help they need.”

Sarah Andrews, Practice Manager at Smile Together Dental CIC, said:

“Smile Together are proud to be delivering care through our mobile dental unit, helping to reach some of the most vulnerable people in our communities who’ve struggled to access a dentist. Being able to provide essential treatment and advice where it’s needed most is truly rewarding — it’s about making a real difference every day.”

Wider NHS Measures

The dental van is just one part of a wider package of work by the NHS in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, which includes:

• Thousands of additional urgent and emergency dental care appointments, available through NHS111 online or by phone.

• Additional “stabilisation” appointments to treat other urgent dental issues following emergency care.

• Working with local dentists to secure new NHS contracts in areas of greatest need and support efforts to recruit dentists to Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

• Delivering The Big Brush Club, which provides supervised toothbrushing sessions to 10,000 primary school children across the county.

• Running the Smarter Smiles programme, delivered by Smile Together Dental CIC, which encourages long-term behaviour changes to improve oral health and well-being.