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 »
Read More
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 »
Read More
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 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…
Despite the link between oral health and general health being clearly understood and supported by many global bodies, oral diseases are still very common all around the world.
To effectively tackle the pain and suffering many people feel because of poor oral health, a more pragmatic approach is needed.
A preventative attitude to oral health is the best option. Many people do not have regular access to oral care services and therefore miss the necessary care and specific preventative education that will help to keep their mouth and body healthy. This is especially true for populations in remote and rural areas, low socio-economic groups of people with little access to dental care, and patients with both physical and mental disabilities or mobility issues which could make visiting a dental practice more difficult.
In a new opinion paper on the role of teledentistry in enabling improved oral care outcomes, we define the major barriers to accessing oral healthcare and revi…
Read More