A STAGGERING number of people across Salisbury are still unable to access NHS dentistry treatments leading to serious dental needs and for some, it means their self-esteem plummets.
In 2022, the Journal investigated the number of dentists in the city who were taking on NHS patients. The results were concerning. A new investigation revealed that patients are still unable to register for treatment.
According to the British Dental Association (BDA), NHS dentistry faces a crisis like no other in its history.
Salisbury resident Enola Dewi is just 25 years old and she lost her top teeth. She had a dentist previously when she lived in Dorset but when she didn't go back for more treatment, they took her off the register.
She said: "I just want some dentures."
"I am now struggling to find a dentist but I just have to soldier on. It's a bit overwhelming and really affects my self-esteem."
Her mother Sonia Dewi is in a similar situation. She said: "I have been waiting two years to see a dentist. I only want my lower dentures. We can't go private because we are on benefits."
In October 2022, Salisbury MP John Glen admitted it was an area he needed to focus on.
He said at the time: "I think the key to solving it is to find a better way to incentivise dentists to take on NHS patients. There is more work to be done."
Chair of the BDA General Practice Committee, Shawn Charlwood, said: “The recent changes do not come close to a reformed contract. These are minor tweaks. They will not stop the exodus of dentists and their teams from the NHS."
A growing number of dentists have simply given up hope of the government fixing a fundamentally broken system, and delivering fair funding.
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Shawn Charlwood said: “The fundamental barrier has been funding. There is only enough NHS dentistry commissioned in this country for 50 per cent of the population. Now can you imagine if this was general medical practice? There would be rioting.”
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Amesbury resident Janet Darg-forsyth said: "We have been very lucky. I have been with my dentist for 15 years in Amesbury now. When we first moved from Farnborough to here, we were travelling back to Camberley and then, Pewsey. But then, got a place at Ivydean in Amesbury. I know you have to keep your appointments.
"For most of my treatment, I am supposed to go to the hygienist but that is private and I can't afford that. Something that is essential to health, why do I have to pay privately for it?"
JJ Darg-Forsyth used to be registered with a private dentist.
He said: "It was just so expensive. You could pay £2000-£3000 and you didn't know what they had done."
The Journal spoke to one woman in the city centre who asked her name not to be revealed, she said she had been trying for five years to get an NHS dentist without luck.
She said: "I was private for a while, but due to a change in circumstances, I couldn't justify that. Also, I had some treatment that hadn't gone well with the NHS, so I went private but then, it was just too long. I have tried quite a few times.
She added: "It is ridiculous. It's appalling."
The Government stated its commitment to expand training by 40 per cent but the BDA countered this by saying that many dentists have given up hope that the Government will deliver real reform or fair funding and described it as an attempt to "fill a leaky bucket".
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