Government Funding to Pay for Free Dental Check-ups for Thousands in Derby
Additional government funding, allocated to improve access to dental services, will provide thousands of people in Derby with free dental check-ups.
Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley recently announced that a cash injection of £28 million would be made available for NHS dental services and Primary Care Trusts were invited to bid for extra funding.
In response to concern about poor standards of oral health in the area, Derby has received an additional sum of £180,000, which will provide almost four thousand people with a free routine check-up.
The cash will be used to launch a programme, which is aimed to target those who have not seen a dentist over the course of the last two years. Patients will be given a voucher worth £17 to pay for a free check-up with the scheme.
According to recent statistics, only 57 percent of people in the county attend a check-up on a regular basis. Mak Sidhu, a dentist from Park Dental in Chaddesden, said that people need help with the cost of care at the moment as a result of the tough financial climate. He said that he has had many patients who have put off treatment because they cannot afford it, choosing to run the risk of problems becoming more severe and painful. Mr Sidhu is eager to spread the message that regular dental trips will actually save money in the long run, because the cost of complex treatment is much higher than preventative and basic treatments.
Mr Sidhu also stressed the need for greater public awareness of the potential health issues linked to poor health and avoiding dental check-ups. Numerous studies have linked poor oral health to an increased risk of heart disease, strokes and diabetes, and missing regular appointments also helps dentists diagnose serious oral diseases, such as oral cancer, at an early stage when the condition is much more treatable.
Thirty two dental practices have signed up to the voucher scheme, which will run throughout March.
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