UK dentists pen open letter highlighting NHS dentistry ‘crisis’

NHS dentistry has been accused of devolving into a crisis akin to conditions in the Third World by a group of dental professionals.

More than 400 UK dentists have put their names to an open letter published by the Telegraph that states the current system is unfit for purpose, leading millions of people to go for long periods without even seeing a dentist, or remaining ignorant of basic dental hygiene.

NHS figures show that 48 per cent of UK adults and a 31 per cent of children have not seen a dentist within two years, with almost 62,500 people admitted to hospital in England per year because of tooth decay.

Within the most seriously affected age-group – those aged between five and nine years old – the numbers rose by 14 percent in three years to almost 26,000.

Partly in response to this, a new emergency treatment service for poor and vulnerable people in Dewsbury was recently set up by Dentaid, a charity that usually serves impoverished nations in Africa, Asia and Central America.

The letter said: "Far from improving, the situation has worsened to such an extent that charity groups normally associated with providing dental care in Third World arenas now have to do so in England."