JUST a third of adults attended dental appointments as the coronavirus pandemic brought disruption to the Isle of Wight, figures suggest.

NHS England data shows a steep drop in people visiting the dentist in 2020 and 2021, with many missing check-ups and treatment.

The figures are proof that NHS dentistry is at the "last chance saloon" and in urgent need of reform, according to the British Dental Association.

In the two years to December 2021, 40,890 adults on the Isle of Wight attended an appointment — the equivalent of 35 per cent of the population.

That is significantly down on the 24 months to December 2019 when 58,987, or 51 per cent, attended.

Island MP Bob Seely said recently the Island was "significantly suffering" over the lack of dental appointments.

Between March and June 2020, dental practices were instructed to close and defer routine, non-urgent dental care to limit the spread of Covid-19.

Data relating to children is recorded on an annual basis and shows that the volume of dentist visits, which declined significantly during the pandemic, showed signs of improvement last year.

Nationally, 43 per cent of the child population were seen by an NHS dentist in the year to December — up from 30 per cent the year before, but still significantly down on the 58 per cent seen in 2019, prior to the pandemic.

Last year, 36 per cent of the Isle of Wight's child population – 8,952 youngsters – saw their dentist, compared to 26 per cent in 2020 and 54 per cent in 2019.

Read more: Shocking state of Island's dental service