The Guardian View on Dentists: The Lack of Care for Children’s Teeth Is a Disgrace

THE GUARDIAN – EDITORIAL: A committee of MPs is the latest body to sound the alarm about the disappearance of NHS dentistry

Parliament’s health and social care committee is the latest body to warn about the decline of NHS dentistry. In a new report, the MPs say that the problem of so-called dental deserts – where it is impossible to register with an NHS dental practice – is getting worse rather than better. About 3,000 dentists have left the NHS since the start of the pandemic. Shortages are particularly acute in the east of England, where there is nowhere to train. Lincolnshire is among the counties with the lowest number of dentists, and people living there report having to travel for hours to find a dentist to treat them.

One study found that 90% of practices nationally were not accepting new NHS patients. Those affected include pregnant women and children, who should be able to access free care (most other people contribute to the cost of treatment). There has also been a steep decline in the ability of care homes to provide dental care for residents. From 67% in 2019, the number of providers who say they have access to dentists fell last year to just 35%. In one survey, 8% of people said that they had not seen a dentist for more than 10 years. » | Editorial | Tuesday, July 18, 2023

MPs Demand Dentistry Overhaul as Patients Resort to DIY Treatment

THE GUARDIAN: Report calls for urgent reform to NHS services with some people unable to access care said to be using pliers to extract teeth

NHS dental services are not fit for purpose and need urgent reform, according to MPs who have warned that people are resorting to DIY treatment using pliers.

A report published on Friday by the health and social care select committee said it was “totally unacceptable in the 21st century” that large numbers of patients had to experience pain and distress because they could not see an NHS dentist.

Fundamental changes were vital if people were to receive the dental care they were entitled to, the report concluded. » | Anna Bawden, Social affairs correspondent | Friday, July 14, 2023

People in England ‘Face Three-year Waits for Dentist Appointments’

THE GUARDIAN: Damning report shows surgeries have ‘thousands’ of people on waiting lists

People are being told to wait until 2024 for dentist appointments while others are being removed from their practice lists for not making appointments sooner, according to a damning report into the state of dentistry.

Dental surgeries have reported that they have thousands of people on their waiting lists, while patients are unable to access care after ringing round numerous dental surgeries, a watchdog has warned.

Delays have resulted in the worsening of painful symptoms and in one instance even led to a patient needing hospital treatment after overdosing on painkillers, it said.

But Healthwatch England said that some people are being offered swift private care as an alternative at the same dental practice, with some patients reporting that they felt pressured to pay for their treatment.

Some practices appeared to be prioritising private care, it added. » | PA Media | Monday, May 24, 2021