Researchers found that less than 12% of adults in some areas saw an NHS dentist in the past year, with just four out of ten adults visiting a dentist in the years 2022 to 2023. Additionally, only half of children went for their annual check-up as recommended by the health service. The areas with the lowest dental visit rates were North Kesteven, Lincs, followed closely by Melton, Leics, and Tewkesbury, Glos. Think-tank Onward conducted an analysis that suggests reforms are needed, proposing that dental therapists should be allowed to work independently to increase access to dental care.
The Save NHS Dentistry petition, supported by the Mirror, demands three main changes to improve access to dental care in the UK. Firstly, it advocates for everyone to have access to an NHS dentist, highlighting that more than 12 million people were unable to access NHS dental care last year, with 90% of dental practices no longer accepting new NHS adult patients. The second demand is to restore funding for dental services and recruit more NHS dentists, as government spending on dental services in England was cut by a quarter in real terms between 2010 and 2020. The final demand is to change the current NHS dentists’ contracts, which are described as “not fit for purpose” by a Parliamentary report, and do not reflect patient needs or incentivize dentists appropriately.
Chief economist Tim Leunig suggested that liberalizing dentistry could help more people access dental care by allowing dental therapists to run practices and deliver care they are trained for. However, Eddie Crouch from the British Dental Association raised concerns about the lack of dental hygienists and therapists available to work within the current underfunded system. The government’s response to improving dental access includes offering dentists financial incentives to work in underserved areas and implementing mobile dental vans in rural areas. The Mirror is campaigning for the right to an NHS dentist for all individuals.
In terms of technological advancements, the implementation of a service worker has been proposed to enhance offline support for users accessing dental services online. The service worker would be able to cache webpages and enable offline viewing, ensuring that users have access to important information even when offline. Additionally, the service worker could provide push notifications for updates or reminders related to dental appointments and care. The use of indexedDB and other storage mechanisms can further enhance the overall user experience and accessibility of dental information and services.
Overall, the need for reforms in the dental care system in the UK is evident, with low visit rates to NHS dentists among adults and children. Proposed changes include allowing dental therapists to work independently, restoring funding for dental services, and revising the current contracts for NHS dentists. These reforms aim to increase access to dental care for all individuals, address the shortage of dentists, and improve the overall quality of dental services provided. Additionally, technological solutions such as service workers and offline support can enhance the user experience and accessibility of dental information online.
