Millions denied access to dentistry in the UK
According to a recent report published by the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB), millions of adults in England and Wales are unable to find a publicly funded dentist to treat them and have abandoned regular check-ups. Dentistry, like many areas of the National Health Service (NHS), has been steadily privatised. It is now very difficult to […]
Could NHS dentistry end?
The British Dental Association (BDA) will warn the government this week that the future of NHS dentistry is ‘at risk’ unless ministers scrap the current NHS contracts. Representatives of the BDA have already outlined how the contract changes have seen more than 1,000 dentists leave the health service. A further exodus will threaten to bring […]
You won’t need fillings anymore
A revolutionary laser device that detects the early signs of tooth decay could end the need for fillings. The hand-held machine, designed by scientists at Strathclyde University, Glasgow, uses a laser to create an image of a tooth’s mineral content and allows dentists to see if decay has started. Patients whose teeth are found to […]
British dentists leaving the NHS by the thousands
Contract changes that have seen more than 1,000 dentists leave the health service threaten to bring about the end of NHS dentistry, MPs will be warned next week. The introduction of financial penalties for missing targets has already seen twice as many dentists leave the NHS as the Government estimated. Thousands more are questioning their […]
Composite Fillings or Amalgam Fillings?
Personally, I think Amalgam fillings should be banned. Denmark has announced plans to ban the use of amalgam in dental procedures, as well as Norway and Sweden earlier this year. The Danish ban will come into place on 1 April 2008, while the Norwegian and Swedish legislation has been in effect since 1 January. Swedish […]
How many complaints are made against UK dentists?
The number of patients’ complaints against UK dentists is on the rise – The General Dental Council (GDC) dealt with 69 conduct cases against UK dentists in 2007 and 14 dentists were erased from the register. These figures have been climbing in recent years: • In 2004 there were 31 cases and five dentists were […]
Pot smoking link to gum disease
Young pot-smokers risk gum disease and tooth loss by the age of 32 or younger, a new study reveals. Regularly smoking marijuana as a young adult can lead to early periodontal disease – independent of tobacco use – according to New Zealand researchers. The research found that smoking marijuana more than 41 times a year […]
Scottish figures up – but half of adults still without a dentist
The number of people registered with an NHS dentist in Scotland has increased along with the number of NHS dentists – but more than half of all adults still do not have one. By the end of September 2007, 48.6% of adults were registered with an NHS dentist – up from 46.5% in June. Child […]
NHS-wary patients seek Slovak Dentists
Slovakia has reportedly become the destination of choice for many British patients seeking dental treatment. Frustrations over long waiting lists and treatment prices – fees have soared by £60 million over the last year – have led to many people looking further afield and Slovakia’s reputation for quality dentistry and low prices has attracted large […]