The Grantham area is the worst place in the country for new patients to try and get a dental appointment, according to the British Dental Association.
The association says that analysis of the Government's GP Survey carried out last year shows that a quarter of a million new patients in the Midlands have failed to secure access to NHS routine dental services.
It found that an estimated 6,120 new patients in the area covered by NHS South West Lincolnshire CCG , which includes Grantham and Sleaford, were unable to secure appointments, which is 62 per cent of all new patients.
The second worst area is that covered by South Lincolnshire CCG, which includes Stamford and Spalding, with 46 per cent of new patients unable to get an appointment.
The British Dental Association has compiled the data after analysis of the survey. It says one in four new patients across England and Wales, an estimated one million people, not on the books with an NHS dentist, have tried and failed to secure an NHS appointment.
The worst access problems are across the Midlands and especially Lincolnshire.
"Across the Midlands practices are now unable to fill vacancies, as a system of unforgiving targets pushes talented colleagues out. The result is hundreds of thousands of irregular attenders – many with poor oral health – are falling through the cracks.
The data from the 2018 GP survey was gathered on behalf of NHS England on a range of topics including patients' ability to access dental care.