Better access to NHS dentistry has affected quality

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A survey carried out by Simplyhealth has indicated that improved access to NHS dental care has come at the cost of quality.

The survey found that a significant proportion of dental patients had experienced changes in the level of NHS cover in recent years and 17 percent of participants said that they do not feel that the service they receive is as good as it used to be.

The study also found that 20 percent of participants said that they were not visiting their dentist as regularly as they used to because their dentist was recommending longer gaps between appointments; this contradicts recent research which has suggested that dentists are encouraging patients to visit too frequently. according to NICE guidelines, patients with good oral health should visit their dentist for a routine check-up at least once every two years.

The survey suggested that most people are able to see an NHS dentist but there are still people who are struggling to register with an NHS dentist in their local area; the proportion of people having trouble finding a dentist has decreased from 39 percent to 29 percent.

The most important point which has arisen from the survey is that an increasingly large proportion of the population is struggling to afford dental treatment; as a result of this, many people are delaying treatment and cancelling appointments.

 

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