I began working with Dental Lifeline Network about four years ago. I was introduced into the program by my father who has been a volunteer for many years. One of my Dental Lifeline Network patients was an elderly woman who had been to many other offices without success. She had numerous health challenges and was receiving treatment for… Read More »
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There are too many things happening in life that could make us feel stressed, overwhelmed and less focused. Especially as a new dentist with a lot of responsibilities, your mind is constantly busy trying to get a clearer insight of where you want to take your practice to. The first rule to keep in mind is that there’s… Read More »
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The day we obtain our dental license, our role changes from student to doctor. After a lifetime of being told what to do by “grown-ups,” teachers and professors, the roles reverse. It can be challenging when confronted by patients asking us to do things we are not comfortable with doing, especially if we want to please our patients.… Read More »
Read More Many factors can influence our life: where we go to school, what friends we make, and even the opportunities we have in life.
However, one of the things we don’t usually think about is how our socioeconomic status – the combination of our income, occupation, and social background – can affect our dental health.
Two years ago, Public Health England released a report which shows that various factors can impact our health.
“Inequalities by individual socioeconomic position and area deprivation were the most researched topics and there is clear and consistent evidence for social gradients in the prevalence of dental conditions, the impact of poor oral health and service use.”
Other reports from around the world also showed similar results: “The fact that children from higher income households have more chances to access dental care, including a more specific diagnostic assessment and have one or more filled teeth, explains some of the differences in oral and den…
24 February 2023
The Oral Health Foundation calls for urgent action after a new report by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities highlights a catastrophic rise in childhood tooth extractions.
Shocking figures reveal an 83% increase in the number of 0-19 year-olds being admitted to hospital for tooth extractions under general anaesthetic, due to tooth decay.
In total, there were 26,741 tooth extractions on 0-19 year-olds, due to tooth decay between 2021-2022.
According to the report, there are large disparities between areas of the country, for example, Yorkshire and the Humber rates are over five times that of the East Midlands.
The cost of hospital extractions under general anaesthetic in children 0-19, due to decayed teeth was almost £60 million. The Oral Health Foundation says this is NHS money that could be used in other areas, to improve dental access and reduce treatment waiting times.
The charity believes more education and funding are needed, as well as i…
