Northern Irish dentists call for new plans to boost standards of oral health and improve morale
Dentists in Northern Ireland have called for new oral health plans to improve standards of dental health among patients and boost morale within the profession.
The British Dental Association in Northern Ireland has expressed fears of “stagnation” as subsidised dentistry has become “synonymous with low pay, low morale and longer working hours” and rates of tooth extraction have soared. The organisation believes that drastic measures must be taken to tackle poor standards of oral health and improve working conditions for dental professionals.
Tristan Kelso, director, said that the “absence of a current oral health strategy” has contributed to the creation of a “policy vacuum,” which is harming both patients and dental workers.
Statistics show that decay is more prevalent in Northern Ireland than other parts of the UK. In Northern Ireland, 12 people out of every 1,000 require tooth extraction compared to 4 in every 1,000 in England.
Mr Kelso urged the government to take action and implement a cohesive, coordinated strategy, which puts both professional morale and patient health and wellbeing at the forefront. Although there has been an improvement in children’s oral health in recent years, there is still a long way to go, and the BDA believes that there is a risk of stagnation compared to other nations, which could be prevented by a change in policy and increased investment in oral health services and education.
