This is a subject that really does make my blood boil! NHS dentistry is not available at anything like the rate it should be to ensure better standards of health in the UK. Some dentists and the Government will do their level best to point out that this is not the case; trust me, it really is!
Many dentists will take on a small number of patients through the NHS, but as the Government does not tend to pay at all well, they will often state that they cannot afford to concentrate on this customer base.
As a consequence of this, the UK is now renowned for having some of the most rotten teeth in the Western World. The Americans really do look down their noses at us over this issue. Even more importantly, poor teeth and mouth hygiene has been associated with a higher risk of heart problems, especially when an abscess may have resulted.
But who is to blame for this lack of availability? Both the Government and the greedy dentists need to take responsibility for this issue. Dentists need only possess a limited knowledge on the human body, yet they still insist on commanding fees that would be more suited to a fully qualified doctor.
The Government also needs to address this issue as a matter of urgency. Perhaps they could insist that the bankers bonuses are re-invested back into this area of the health service. After all, we did pay the taxes that funded these bonuses in the first instance. There I go again! Being far too idealistic!
