New report reveals 1 in 5 Brits have attempted DIY dentistry
A new report has revealed that 1 in 5 British adults have attempted DIY dentistry.
The Great British Oral Health Report showed that 20% of adults have tried to undertake dental work at home, including pulling out teeth and trying to fill cavities. The majority of people who said that they had employed DIY dental care had taken painkillers at home to treat dental pain. One percent of those surveyed had tried to extract their own teeth.
The report also suggested that half of adults have not seen a dentist in the last year, with many stating that they had been unable to get an appointment with an NHS dentist. The study indicated that there is an “acute shortage” of dentists and a lack of funds within the system, which will contribute to more profound and widespread problems in the future.
One of the main issues facing practices that provide NHS dental care is a shortage of staff. As well as staff members isolating due to Covid, data suggests that many employees have left the NHS to pursue private work or even change careers. Practices are finding it increasingly difficult to fill vacancies and this is leading to increased waiting times and restricted access to appointments.
Recent data shows that there were 951 fewer dentists working in the NHS in 2020/2021 than in the previous year and studies suggest that this trend could continue, with many more dentists considering leaving the NHS. More than 40% percent of dentists are thinking about leaving the NHS, quitting the profession or taking early retirement.
There have been suggestions that recruiting dentists from overseas could help to alleviate staffing issues, but not everyone agrees. Mydentist chief executive, Tom Riall, proposed making it easier for dentists from the Commonwealth to work in the UK, but chair of the British Dental Association, Eddie Crouch, said that the answer was “not simply looking abroad.”
For more news click here.
Join this Discussion