New survey raises concerns over ‘dental timebomb’ in Plymouth
A new survey has raised concerns over an impending ‘dental timebomb’ in Plymouth.
Research by Dental Phobia suggests that some patients are waiting up to five years for check-ups because they can’t get appointments with NHS dentists, they can’t afford to go to the dentist or they’re anxious about having dental treatment.
An interactive map shows that there are currently 286 NHS dentists in Devon. This equates to one dentist per 2,770 patients. In Plymouth, there are 23 NHS dental practices.
The Dental Phobia study suggests that the cost of living has impacted some patients, but many are not attending regular appointments because of dentist shortages. Most people cannot afford to go private and there are very few NHS places available for new adult patients.
For the first time on record, the average gap between dental appointments has risen to over 12 months for children. Most children are now going to the dentist every 15 months. This is despite guidelines from the NHS recommending dental visits every 6-12 months.
The survey revealed that men are more likely to avoid going to the dentist than women. Men are waiting an average of five years to see a dentist and 45% of those polled admitted that they won’t make an appointment until something is wrong and they need treatment. Women wait an average of 3 years and 35% will only go if they have dental issues.
Rhona Eskander, a dentist, said that Devon was facing a “dental timebomb” if people continue to wait long periods between dental appointments.
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