Access to dental services harder for the elderly

Thursday, 30 October 2008

Poor access to dentistry services is causing a big problem for the elderly, says Help the Aged.

Many more pensioners now keep their own teeth, compared with days before the NHS, but now housebound elderly people or those in care homes struggle to see a dentist. Of people aged 75 and over, more than a third fail to keep up with regular dental check-ups – the worst figure for any age group.

Although the government says it understands the importance of dental services for everyone, experts say the lack of mobile dental units is adversely affecting the elderly, particularly those in care homes. Chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, Nigel Carter, agreed that the situation was worrying.

Ironically, it is the increase in the number of over 70s keeping their own teeth that has stretched dental services. Yet tooth decay and associated pain with dental problems can affect not only people’s eating habits but also their nutrition. Help the Aged say the NHS and carers need to be aware of the problem.

Access to NHS dentists has become harder in recent years and despite a new contract in 2006, the number of NHS dentists has barely increased. A spokesman for the Department of Health said they recognised the need for everyone to have access to NHS dentistry services.

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