Health chiefs say they are trying to improve NHS dental services to patients in the Isle of Man.
They will be holding talks with dentists later this month to discuss how to improve things.
The Department of Health and Social Care was responding to criticism from the Liberal Vannin party.
A LibVan spokesman said: ‘The lack of NHS dentists together with the lack of real preventative care is causing a major problem on the island.
‘Not only is time spent on the waiting list to join an NHS practice an impossible wait but, when finally on a list, getting an appointment within a reasonable period of time is again impossible as there is a minimum two- to three-month wait for a check-up after an emergency appointment.
‘The government needs to address the lack of NHS dentists currently available and needs to do so with urgency.’
The party says that more people are no longer having adequate dental care because they cannot afford a private dentist and have lost hope waiting either getting registered with a NHS dentist or waiting to get an appointment for a basic check up.
A DHSC spokeman said that the department recognised that there were long standing issues with the capacity of NHS Dental services and was taking steps to increase the number of dental providers, with new practices opening.
A statement reads: ‘Achieving our aim of effectively eliminating the waiting list for allocation to general dental practitioners has been slowed by problems with staffing in one of the new providers, but we are assured that the service is now performing to specification.’
The department says that among the NHS dental practices, check-up waiting times are currently an average of eight days.
If patients are requesting specific times or days then the waiting time could be longer.
Discussions with all local dental providers later this month will include consideration of how to further improve matters and update the oral health strategy.
The current waiting list stands at 2,795 patients, with 920 to be allocated over the next two months.
The statement continues: ‘Last month 200 patients were allocated to an NHS dentist and 30 per cent of those patients did not make contact with the practice.
‘This may mean that 30 per cent do not wish to have a NHS dentist or have made other arrangements.
‘Family Practitioner Services are currently in the process of writing to all patients on the dental waiting list to ensure they still wish to be allocated to an NHS dentist. Other options for the allocation of patients are currently being explored.
‘It is important that people who are not registered with a dentist, should not wait for an emergency, but seek to be added to the NHS list in the meantime.’
The Lib Van spokesman added: ‘Another area that needs to be addressed urgently is the Emergency Dental Service.
‘Why is it you can get help from the MEDS service yet dental pain can only be treated between 9 and 11am on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays?
‘There are a lot of people who cannot afford the private fee for emergency care and therefore suffer in silence.’
The department says that LibVan is wrong regarding dental emergencies.
The statement reads: ‘A comprehensive emergency service is provided, and the Emergency Dental Service, which is an out of hours service, is simply a component of it.
‘Anyone who is registered with a dentist should first contact their practice, who will arrange for emergency treatment. Those with an emergency who are not registered may seek assistance from the Salaried Dental Service at Central Community Health Centre, Westmoreland Road, Douglas by telephoning 642785.
‘The department is confident that the Emergency Dental Service is fully compliant with the National Clinical Guidelines.’