Report suggests more People using NHS Dental Services
The Department of Health has released a report, which confirms that more people are using NHS dental services. The report shows that around one million more people have had a check-up compared to the same time period five years ago.
According to the figures, almost 30 million people underwent a dental examination in the last two years, an increase of 967,000 people since March 2006. The proportion of people treated by an NHS dentist has also exceeded the baseline level for the first time.
Dr Nigel Carter, Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, said that the dental contract introduced by the Labour government in 2006 had caused problems with access to NHS dental services. Many people struggled to get an appointment, as there was a severe shortage of NHS dentists. Now, after increased investment in dental services, access to NHS dental services is improving and the majority of patients can now register with a local NHS dentist, rather than having to choose between travelling long distances and going private.
The report also confirmed that there has been a decrease in the number of NHS dental procedures, with a drop of 100,000 in comparison to last year’s numbers. According to Dr Carter, there is a positive correlation between the number of people attending check-ups and the number of procedures, as if people attend regular check-ups, it is less likely that they will require treatment further down the line.
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