The pilot of the new dental system involves a traffic-light rating where patients are given a ‘green’, ‘amber’ or ‘red’ notice on the condition of their teeth and gums. Patients flagged as ‘red’ can be refused advanced treatment until they have improved their oral health – by cleaning their teeth more and cutting down on sugary foods.
Dentists largely welcome the scheme, which has been running for two-and-a-half years, because it focuses on preventing problems as well as treating them. But the initial check-ups take up to half an hour per patient rather than 15 minutes, meaning that waiting times for an appointment have increased.
Dr Len D’Cruz, of Woodford Dental Care in North-East London, who has been on the pilot since 2011, said: ‘It’s halved the number of patients we can see and increased waiting times which has been frustrating for the practice and patients.’
Dentist Dr Tony Kilcoyne, from Haworth, West Yorkshire, said he had no problem with therapists doing fillings but warned the move could be a ‘false economy’ as they tended to take longer. And dentist Dr Suzanne Baker, from Dewsbury, said. ‘People are going to lose the family-dentist feel patients appreciate.’
Earl Howe said no new scheme would be rolled out before 2016.
A DoH spokesman said: ‘Our pilots are exploring how we prevent people needing treatment in the first place, but will not be a blueprint for a new system.’
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