It seems strange that a wealthy Western country with a national health service would encounter a care shortfall, but according to an open letter signed by over 400 national health service dentists, Britain will soon face a "national health disaster" in the dental sphere.

In the letter, dentists highlight the targets set by the NHS as unrealistic, saying that "red tape" and procedure quotas were critically impairing their ability to focus on preventing caries. One out of every six communities in the UK has no NHS dentist taking new patients, and a full third of UK adults have tooth decay, something the letter deemed "an international disgrace," while dentists feel that they cannot provide basic services for a full half of the population every year.

Underscoring the situation is the number of charity dental groups opening aid events throughout the country. Aid organizations such as Dentaid, and US-based Remote Area Medical, have begun programs across the UK to address the shortfall. Part of the outcry is centered on the fact that these organizations are more accustomed to working in sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and other areas of extreme poverty. Critics argue that by being needed in the UK, lawmakers are essentially taking care away from people in the poorest areas of the world.

Among the various bureaucratic causes leading to the care shortfall, the letter states that the problem has been "compounded by watered-down obesity and sugar-tax policies." The UK struggles with early childhood caries and obesity just as the US does, and the strain put on an already-overtaxed system appears to be coming to a head.

Sources:
Laura Donnelly. (2018). Dental crisis leaves Britain reliant on charity from the developing world. The Telegraph. Retrieved 10 January 2018, from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/01/02/dental-crisis-leaves-britain-reliant-charity-developing-world/

 

Britain's dental crisis is forcing charities to step in. (2018). Mail Online. Retrieved 10 January 2018, from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-5228483/Britains-dental-crisis-forcing-charities-step-in.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

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The information contained in this, or any case study post in Incisor, should never be considered a proper replacement for necessary training and/or education regarding adult oral conscious sedation. Regulations regarding sedation vary by state. This is an educational and informational piece. DOCS Education accepts no liability whatsoever for any damages resulting from any direct or indirect recipient's use of or failure to use any of the information contained herein. DOCS Education would be happy to answer any questions or concerns mailed to us at 3250 Airport Way S, Suite 701 | Seattle, WA 98134. Please print a copy of this posting and include it with your question or request.
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