| When I started as a dentist it was pleasing to see an | | | | their intention is to encourage dentists to provide |
| improvement in the Nations dental health with | | | | simpler treatments. |
| increasing number of the population keeping their | | | | For our children the number of fillings place fell by |
| teeth throughout their lives. I wonder if this trend has | | | | 13% which on the face of it looks good if it is |
| now changed since the introduction of the new NHS | | | | because they are experiencing less decay. The fact |
| contract some 3 and half years ago. | | | | that extractions in children also rose by 12% makes |
| During this period initial figures indicate the number of | | | | me wonder if this is the real reason. |
| bridges and root treatments have fallen by around a | | | | Here at Smile Style being completely private for |
| half and crowns by a third, while treatment involving | | | | adults and children means we are free from the |
| dentures rose by 13% and extractions by 8%. There | | | | targets and constraints dictated by the Government |
| has also been a 16% fall in scale and polish | | | | and we can concentrate on delivering individuals with |
| treatments, an essential opportunity to deliver | | | | the best treatment options to ensure dental health |
| preventative advice and the number of radiographs | | | | for life. NHS Dentistry is no longer free for the vast |
| (dental x-ray films) has fallen by 36%. This can only | | | | majority of people and the small extra investment to |
| mean that disease will now go undetected longer | | | | be seen privately could mean the difference between |
| leading too even more extractions especially as the | | | | eating with plastic teeth or your own. |
| Government and Department of Health state that | | | | |