Warrington is facing a 'dental timebomb'

This comes as patients are delaying check-ups by five years and 40 per cent of people not going to the dentist at all.

And the cost of living crisis and shortage of NHS dentists is to blame for this, according to a new survey.

In Cheshire, there are 361 NHS dentists serving a population of 931,347.

This equates to one NHS dentist for 2,579 residents

But out of the various locations in Cheshire, Warrington is best served for NHS dentists – with 22.

Meanwhile, Knutsford has six NHS dentists, Runcorn has five and Knutsford has four.

Dentist Rhona Eskander, a world leader in dental care, said: “Warrington is facing a dental timebomb if patients don’t get back into the habit of seeking regular check-ups.

“What is most worrying is that the cost of living crisis is forcing some parents to cut corners with their children’s teeth.

“Regular dental appointments are easy to put off and lots of people in Cheshire got out of the habit of going to the dentist during Covid and have not returned.

“Patients end up losing their teeth because small cavities which could be fixed inexpensively when they first develop grow quickly without treatment.

“And more serious conditions such as the early signs of oral cancer - particularly important for patients who smoke and drink regularly - are often first spotted by dentists.

“One of the most common signs of head and neck cancer is an ulcer which develops in the mouth and does not heal within 14 days. Caught early, survival rates are good but they drop rapidly.”

Results from a new survey of 5,000 by Dental Phobia reveal that men wait for an average of five years between check-ups and 45 per cent don’t go to the dentist at all unless they have a problem.

They also show that women wait for an average of three years between check-ups and 35 per cent only go if they have an issue.

Additionally, the average gap between children having dental appointments in the county has gone over a year for the first time and now stands at 15 months.

To view a dental map for England compiled by Dental Phobia, visit dentalphobia.co.uk/nhs-dentists-in-england

You can also find an NHS dentist via nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/how-to-find-an-nhs-dentist/