Wales - Dentists want free checks for young and old
Dentists want free checks for young and old Mar 24 2007
Madeleine Brindley, Western Mail
DENTISTS say that giving the under-25s and over-60s in Wales free check-ups would be a major step in saving the nation's teeth. The profession is also calling for a major review of dentistry in Wales, as 74,000 patients have lost access to NHS services since the new contract was signed.There are also fears that vital money for dentistry is being withheld by local health boards in Wales. Because this money has not been spent on dentistry it will return to the Welsh Assembly Government at the end of this month - the end of the financial year.
The claims come as the British Dental Association launches its manifesto ahead of the National Assembly elections in May. The demand for free check-ups to be reinstated for the young and old is key to improving the dental health of the nation as it will persuade more people to look after their dental health.Stuart Geddes, director of the BDA in Wales said, "Dentistry in Wales has undergone fundamental reform in the last twelve months. The Welsh Assembly Government has itself acknowledged that approximately 74,000 former patients have lost access to NHS dentistry since the reforms were implemented."Dentists and patients alike are facing significant problems accessing NHS dentistry in Wales. It's clear that an urgent and thorough review of the reforms is required." Before the dental contract was introduced, check-ups were free for the under-25s and over-60s, but now they face charges of between £12 and £39 when they visit. If they attend for a check-up but the dentist decides that they need some work - for example a filling - they will have to pay the corresponding band charge. Mr Geddes said, "The benefit of the free examination has been removed because people are having to pay for it alongside any work carried out at the time."Older people especially, do not have as much disposable income and are not going to feel the benefit of a free examination."They may feel that they don't need to go to the dentist that often, but even small things like changes to medication can affect the teeth. Older people can also evelop small lesions in the mouth, some of which can be quite nasty. "I think this system discourages the prevention approach that is needed in the dental service."
The new contract introduced three bands of charges for patients - £12, £39 and £177 - according to how much work they have done. Dentists believe that this new system is difficult for patients to understand and is an "oversimplification" of the complex work that dentists carry out.
Official statistics published yesterday by the Welsh Assembly Government reveal that 55% of the Welsh population received some form of dental treatment last year. There are 1,150 dentists on open contracts, equivalent to one dentist for every 2,564 people.In England there is one dentist for every 2,414 people. The BDA said that, before the latest dentistry reforms, 40% of children and 55% of adults in Wales were not registered with an NHS dentist. Although 98% of dentists in Wales signed a new general dental services or personal dental services contract last year, the Welsh Assembly Government has stated that 74,000 former NHS patients are now without a dentist. A WAG spokesman said, "We would expect the British Dental Association to positively lobby on behalf of dentistry in Wales. It would be helpful in making these proposals that some estimate of their cost and relative priority should be included in their submission." 'Water fluoridation has the greatest potential to reduce tooth decay'
The British Dental Association Wales' manifesto makes a thinly-veiled call for the next National Assembly to consider water fluoridation. The manifesto states that it should support a policy which "gets fluoride into contact with teeth in the most clinically effective, cost-effective and acceptable way". The controversial practice of adding fluoride to the water supply - regarded by some as forced mass-medication - is not the only way of protecting dental health. Fluoride can also be added to milk distributed to school children or even to salt. Another idea would be to give away free fluoride toothpaste. But the manifesto states, "Of these methods, water fluoridation has the greatest potential to reduce tooth decay and improve oral health inequalities."
The last place in Wales to have fluoridated water was Anglesey - after it was stopped in 1991, there was a 68% rise in tooth decay levels in children of all ages within five years. For fluoride to be added to the water supply the National Assembly must enact section 58 of the Water Act 2003 which would mean water companies have a duty to fluoridate water supplies if requested to do so by local health boards, following public consultation.
Madeleine Brindley, Western Mail
DENTISTS say that giving the under-25s and over-60s in Wales free check-ups would be a major step in saving the nation's teeth. The profession is also calling for a major review of dentistry in Wales, as 74,000 patients have lost access to NHS services since the new contract was signed.There are also fears that vital money for dentistry is being withheld by local health boards in Wales. Because this money has not been spent on dentistry it will return to the Welsh Assembly Government at the end of this month - the end of the financial year.
The claims come as the British Dental Association launches its manifesto ahead of the National Assembly elections in May. The demand for free check-ups to be reinstated for the young and old is key to improving the dental health of the nation as it will persuade more people to look after their dental health.Stuart Geddes, director of the BDA in Wales said, "Dentistry in Wales has undergone fundamental reform in the last twelve months. The Welsh Assembly Government has itself acknowledged that approximately 74,000 former patients have lost access to NHS dentistry since the reforms were implemented."Dentists and patients alike are facing significant problems accessing NHS dentistry in Wales. It's clear that an urgent and thorough review of the reforms is required." Before the dental contract was introduced, check-ups were free for the under-25s and over-60s, but now they face charges of between £12 and £39 when they visit. If they attend for a check-up but the dentist decides that they need some work - for example a filling - they will have to pay the corresponding band charge. Mr Geddes said, "The benefit of the free examination has been removed because people are having to pay for it alongside any work carried out at the time."Older people especially, do not have as much disposable income and are not going to feel the benefit of a free examination."They may feel that they don't need to go to the dentist that often, but even small things like changes to medication can affect the teeth. Older people can also evelop small lesions in the mouth, some of which can be quite nasty. "I think this system discourages the prevention approach that is needed in the dental service."
The new contract introduced three bands of charges for patients - £12, £39 and £177 - according to how much work they have done. Dentists believe that this new system is difficult for patients to understand and is an "oversimplification" of the complex work that dentists carry out.
Official statistics published yesterday by the Welsh Assembly Government reveal that 55% of the Welsh population received some form of dental treatment last year. There are 1,150 dentists on open contracts, equivalent to one dentist for every 2,564 people.In England there is one dentist for every 2,414 people. The BDA said that, before the latest dentistry reforms, 40% of children and 55% of adults in Wales were not registered with an NHS dentist. Although 98% of dentists in Wales signed a new general dental services or personal dental services contract last year, the Welsh Assembly Government has stated that 74,000 former NHS patients are now without a dentist. A WAG spokesman said, "We would expect the British Dental Association to positively lobby on behalf of dentistry in Wales. It would be helpful in making these proposals that some estimate of their cost and relative priority should be included in their submission." 'Water fluoridation has the greatest potential to reduce tooth decay'
The British Dental Association Wales' manifesto makes a thinly-veiled call for the next National Assembly to consider water fluoridation. The manifesto states that it should support a policy which "gets fluoride into contact with teeth in the most clinically effective, cost-effective and acceptable way". The controversial practice of adding fluoride to the water supply - regarded by some as forced mass-medication - is not the only way of protecting dental health. Fluoride can also be added to milk distributed to school children or even to salt. Another idea would be to give away free fluoride toothpaste. But the manifesto states, "Of these methods, water fluoridation has the greatest potential to reduce tooth decay and improve oral health inequalities."
The last place in Wales to have fluoridated water was Anglesey - after it was stopped in 1991, there was a 68% rise in tooth decay levels in children of all ages within five years. For fluoride to be added to the water supply the National Assembly must enact section 58 of the Water Act 2003 which would mean water companies have a duty to fluoridate water supplies if requested to do so by local health boards, following public consultation.
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