Grinding our teeth in frustration over bad dental service

THE shock announcement a dental practice in Paignton has closed – without staff or patients knowing it was coming – is another blow for long-suffering NHS patients in the region.

Why this happened is a matter of speculation, but the upshot is that very many people in Torbay will be left in the lurch.

For years now we have been living amidst a national dental crisis with deprived and rural areas often the hardest hit. NHS dentists rarely take on new patients and even if patients can afford to go private finding a convenient practice can be difficult.

A quick search of NHS dental practices across Devon indicates that none are taking on new patients unless by referral for specialised treatment.

The result of not being able to see a dentist is teeth are not seen to regularly, problems that could have been resolved early fester and when matters become unbearable long-suffering patients pitch up at A&E expecting treatment.

Already overwhelmed A&E departments are, as the name suggests, not the place for dental procedures, but what are patients to do?

Whenever there is a problem in the NHS the ‘solution’ appears to be to throw vast amounts of money in the general direction of the issue in the hope it magically goes away; a bit like attempting to set a broken bone with a sticking plaster.

Not so for dentistry, where there appears to be little cash available and no quick fix. The cumulative effect of a dental contract that is two decades out of date, so focused on Government targets and so devoid of common sense, is blindingly obvious – and has been for years – yet there is apparently still no strategy, no desire and no will to remedy the situation.

Politicians tut, cry crocodile tears, wring their hands and promise to fix the problem. If that’s the case why are we all still waiting?