Dental surgeons respond to NHS Dental Recovery Plan

NHS England has today (7 February) published a new Dental Recovery Plan which it says will see patients benefit from millions more NHS dental appointments over the next year. The plans are supported by £200 million of funding from the government.

Responding to the plan, Dr Charlotte Eckhardt, Dean of the Faculty of Dental Surgery (FDS) at the Royal College of Surgeons of England, said:

“The nation’s oral health, and particularly that of children, is not in a great way and we know that this is due in part to problems accessing NHS dentists. NHS England’s plan, and the funding behind it, should go some way to tackling the growing inequalities in oral health and the current crisis of access.

“As dental surgeons, who deal with some of the most severe problems, we are pleased to see measures in the plan that will help reduce tooth decay, including roll-out of a new ‘Smile for Life’ programme, to offer families advice for baby gums and milk teeth, the potential introduction of a water fluoridation programme across the North East, and dental vans to reach underserved communities.

“It is also good to see efforts to make NHS dental work more attractive to dental teams, and plans to attract more NHS dentists. However, it will take some time to recruit the numbers of NHS dentists we really need. Therefore, getting the message on prevention out there is key. Good oral hygiene starts with regularly brushing teeth with a fluoride toothpaste, visiting the dentist, and cutting down on the sugary foods that can lead to decay.”

ENDS 

Notes to Editors:

• The Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of England is an independent professional body committed to helping the entire dental team achieve and maintain excellence in practice and patient care. It provides world-class courses, and its qualifications are internationally recognised, including its new Membership of The Faculty of Dental Surgery (MFDS) examination.

• The Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS England) provides world-class education, assessment, and development to 30,000 surgeons, dental professionals, and wider surgical and dental care teams at all stages of their careers. Our vision is to see excellent surgical care for everyone. We do this by setting professional standards, facilitating research, and championing the best outcomes for patients.

• For more information, please contact the Press Office: Telephone: 020 7869 6053/6054/6047; Email: pressoffice@rcseng.ac.uk; Out-of-hours media enquiries: 0207 869 6056.