What you’ve missed this week

Missed out on this week’s dental news? No problem, here’s what happened over the past seven days…

More than 1 million patients cannot access an NHS dentist

Dental appointment

More than 1 million patients tried and failed to secure an NHS dental appointment, according to new Government data.

The north of England was the worst affected, with 25% of new patients unable to access an appointment.

In contrast, 19% of Londoners were unable to access an NHS dental appointment.

The British Dental Association (BDA) points to a ticking bomb surrounding staffing issues in NHS dental services.

Its national survey found 59% of dental practitioners in England are planning on scaling down or leaving the NHS entirely.

Those with higher NHS commitments are also more likely to leave.

Yasmin Qureshi MP urges government for action on NHS dentistry

Yasmin Qureshi MP has written to Health Secretary Matt Hancock, urging him to act on the NHS dentistry access crisis.

The letter has come about after the Healthy Secretary encouraged patients who cannot access NHS dentistry to seek private treatment.

Sixteen MPs from across England have co-signed the letter.

‘Unless the system is appropriately funded and commissioned,’ Ms Qureshi says in her letter.

‘The problems facing patients in constituencies like ours will soon be shared by patients in every corner of England.

‘In order to ensure that everyone has access to decent dental care, it is vital that we recognise and address this impending crisis in NHS dentistry.’

Pregnant women could be smoking or drinking in private

Pregnant women could be hiding their smoking and drinking habits to avoid negative reactions, a recent study has found.

Researchers at Cardiff University said women felt irritated and alienated if they smoked or drank in public.

Around one in five women are recorded as smokers when they have their initial assessment in Wales.

Researchers concluded that women in the study needed more empathy to help with their habits.

The study found that pregnant women who were smoking and drinking had ‘awkward’ relationships with midwives.

Despite this, it did not stop them from kicking the habit.

Only two weeks to go until the Dublin Dentistry Show

It’s only two weeks until the Dublin Dentistry Show touches down for the first time at Croke Park Stadium.

The free-to-attend exhibition on the 2 March is a great opportunity to get hands-on with the latest dental technology available.

Delegates will also receive:

  • Free food coupon upon arrival
  • Free drinks reception – ‘The Great Guinness Party’ – from 11am
  • Recruitment advert for free. Receive a free 5×2 advert and online listing, usual cost €350, for attending the show
  • Get a free six-month subscription to Irish DentistryDentistry or Oral Health magazine
  • Accommodation offers available at the Croke Park Hotel.

US scientists to test light therapy as relief from oral side effects of cancer treatment

Researchers from the US will be investigating light therapy to treat the painful oral side effects resulting from cancer treatments.

University of Buffalo researchers have received part of a $1.5 million grant to investigate light therapy as a replacement for prescription opioids in treating oral mucositis, painful ulcers and swelling in the mouth that result from chemotherapy and radiation treatment for cancer.

Funded by the National Institutes of Dental and Craniofacial Research’s Small Business Innovation Research programme, the grant will help researchers determine the effectiveness of photobiomodulation, a form of low-dose light therapy, in prevention and treatment of oral mucositis after cancer treatment.


Catch up on last week’s news here.

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