Manx Care reports major drop in dental waiting lists

Health body says renegotiated contracts have cut delays by more than 75 percent

Manx Care says dental waiting lists have fallen sharply after two years of sustained growth, with the organisation claiming a reduction of more than 75 percent since renegotiating contracts with dental providers.

In March 2023, almost 3,000 people were waiting to join an NHS dental practice, and less than two percent of Manx Care’s total budget was being spent on dental and orthodontic care.

The list continued to rise. By October 2023, it stood at 4,268, and by September 2024 it had reached almost 5,500.

The peak came in May 2025, when almost 6,500 residents were waiting.

Across that period, numbers increased by 3,600 people, a rise of 124 percent.

Around 30 percent were children.

Manx Care introduced new measures over the summer, including revised contracts aimed at increasing NHS dental capacity.

Chief Executive Teresa Cope says the result has been a significant turnaround, with the waiting list now closer to 1,500.

The organisation believes it remains on course to eliminate the list entirely by March.

Manx Care says the plan will cost an additional £700,000 every year, which it expects will need to be built into future budgets.

Ms Cope revealed the figures to the Social Affairs Policy Review Committee: