HOME

“Sans eyes, sans teeth, sans taste, sans everything” (Shakespeare)

More than 400 years after these words appeared in the Play “As you like it”, many people, far from being in their dotage, might wonder why the NHS continues to discriminate in the care of their eyes and their teeth. Whilst it used to be true at the end of life in the Midde Ages when the loss of eyesight and teeth was not uncommon, nobody today would wish to look forward in their twilight years to losing their eyesight and/or teeth. Whilst the premature loss of decayed milk teeth in children is on the increase, the oral healthcare needed to prevent the same thing happening in the permanent dentition is notably absent. The oral cavity is a most important harbinger of things to come when early material signs of disease and potential illness become visible. Dental decay is closely associated with poor nutrition and eating heavily processed foods that will often be the origin of obesity and symptoms of Diabetes. Mouth ulcers and an unusual surface appearance of the tongue may announce the hidden presence of metabolic disturbances and stress, whilst the incidence of oral cancer in adults has nearly doubled in the last 20 years (1) The mouth is an important gateway to the oral cavity within which the vital fifth sense of taste resides. The oral cavity, with the lips being an integral part, play a significant role in the mastication of food, verbal communication and facial expression.From birth the mother has a vitally important role to play as a gatekeeper and dental health educator for her young children. How distressing therefore to find this part of the human anatomy remaining the subject of a poorly funded and neglected field of NHS Services.The truth of the matter is, NHS dental services in their present format cannot be guaranteed as long as they continue to be based upon item of service payments sub-contracted from private practices owned by self employed professionals.The sooner the NHS remunerates dentists for maintaining good oral hygiene and dental fitness in children within a capitation mechanism (Dental Passport) the sooner the benefits will be realised in later years with a much reduced incidence of illness. By awarding Dental Health Clinics Children’s Dental Passport Contracts, a new era can begin with a trend setting NHS “Teeth for Life” campaign.  

The days of the NHS General Dental Services (GDS), when more than 95% of all dentistry was outsourced under NHS terms and conditions, are long gone. An overwhelming proportion today is carried out under private contract with newspaper headlines announcing the presence of “NHS Dental Deserts” as a result. The obvious question arises therefore, “Why does the NHS pay so little attention to oral healthcare by introducing financial barriers to the provision of preventive dental care services”? Predicting and preventing future illness in young children would save the taxpayers a small fortune in future NHS treatment costs with the introduction of an NHS Dental Passport for Children (4)  bringing about a cultural change in attitudes.