Experts raise concerns over general dental work
Dental experts have raised concerns over a lack of skills amongst general dentists.
The criticism comes in light of the increase in replacing damaged or decayed teeth with artificial new ones, rather than trying to save the original tooth by means of complex root surgery. Dr Julian Webber, former president of the British Endodontic Society, said that an increasing number of both NHS and private dentists were now performing extractions and replacing teeth with shiny new implants and crowns, rather than carrying out procedures to restore the original tooth. Dr Webber said that a combination of a lack of skill and an urge to offer popular new cosmetic treatments were to blame for the shift away from saving original teeth.
Dr Webber, who now runs the Harley Street Centre for Endodontics in London, went on to say that many dentists were using damaged teeth as an excuse to offer patients treatments which will prove more lucrative for them; the cost of dental implant treatment, for example, can run into the thousands. Root canal treatment and a new crown usually cost around half the price of implant treatment and is much more complex in terms of the time and skills needed by the dentist involved.
Professor Damien Walmsley, of the University of Birmingham agrees with Dr Webber and has urged dentists to reflect on their role; Professor Walmsley said that dentists should be committed to the long-term care of their patients and should not be encouraging patients to use going to the dentist as a kind of shopping experience where they can choose whichever treatments they want.
Recent figures show that the number of procedures involving root canal therapy has fallen steeply over the course of the last few years; between 2003 and 2009 there was a decrease of 40 percent. Figures also show that patients are becoming increasingly dissatisfied with the results of root canal treatment; statistics from the Medical Protection Society show that 25 percent of all dentist negligence claims involve root canal treatment.
The issue of preserving original teeth is a subject of great debate amongst dental experts; dental implants are still relatively new and the long-term effects are still being tested. Initial projections show that dental implants are an effective means of replacing damaged teeth; however, some experts will always argue that original teeth should be preserved if possible.
Join this Discussion