Dental authorities fear for the future as more dentists in the North leave the profession
Dental authorities are fearing for the future of dentistry, as figures reveal that more dentists in the North of England are leaving the profession.
New figures suggest that 460 dentists left the profession in 2015/2016. This represents a five year high and is a significant increase on the total of 421 from 2014/2015. Statistics were particularly concerning in Yorkshire, where there was an increase of 30 dentists leaving the trade over a 12-month period. NHS Digital showed a decrease in the number of dentists leaving their posts in Cumbria, but figures are still considerably higher than they were in 2012-2013.
The British Dental Association has called for more investment in dental services, especially in certain areas of the country, including the North East. Figures show that the ratio of dentists to patients is particularly poor in Durham Dales, Easington and Sedgfield and Sunderland, with just 30-40 dentists per 100,000 patients.
The most recent statistics also highlighted the significant number of children missing out on free dental care. According to NHS Digital, almost five million children in England failed to see an NHS dentist in the 12-month period leading up to June 2017, despite calls from dentists for children to have a check-up every 6 months. Surveys suggest that many parents are unaware that children can see a dentist for free, with a quarter of parents in the North East admitting that they didn’t know that NHS dental care was available free of charge for children.
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