The government's new contract for dentists has failed to improve access to dental services in Cornwall, its MPs have claimed.
The aim of the contract was to improve access to dental services for those who could not afford private care .
But figures from the South West Strategic Health Authority (SHA) show the number of people seen by an NHS dentist in Cornwall has dropped by 7,900 since the introduction of the new contract in April 2006.
The five MPs - Matthew Taylor, Colin Breed, Andrew George, Dan Rogerson and Julia Goldsworthy - said they were told only one surgery in Cornwall was accepting new NHS patients from across the county, while a further two practices would accept new patients within their local catchment areas.
In February, England's Chief Dental Officer Dr Barry Cockcroft said everyone in Cornwall who wanted an NHS dentist would get one, although he refused to give a definite date .
Last week the Commons Health Select Committee released a report which stated there had been a fall in patients being treated by the NHS . It added that access remained "patchy" and there had been a sharp fall in the number of complex procedures carried out.
But the Department of Health responded by saying new practices were opening across England and the reforms were beginning to work .
