6:10pm Sunday 22nd August 2010
Thousands of people are potentially stocking up health problems by not going to see a dentist.
Latest Department of Health figures show 245,857 people in Brighton and Hove and East Sussex went for treatment at an NHS dentist in the two years to June this year.
This is almost 8,000 fewer than the 253,811 who saw an NHS dentist in the two years up to March 2006, when a controversial new charging system led to a mass exodus of dentists from the NHS.
Health bosses say the low figures are due to people still believing there are no NHS dentists who will accept new patients.
However, more dentists have been brought back into the fold in recent years after the initial dip and scores of practices have been opening across the county.
The number of patients getting NHS treatment in West Sussex is now higher than the 2006 figure, standing at 307,592 compared with 293,496 previously.
The same applies to Hastings and Rother, which has gone up from 78,784 to 83,123.
Almost 59% of adults in Hastings and Rother have had NHS treatment in the past two years compared with 53% in Brighton and Hove, 51% in East Sussex Downs and Weald.
NHS Brighton and Hove dental commissioner Cherie Young said: “We are working hard to ensure anyone in the citywhowould like to see an NHS dentist is able to do so.
“We fund more than 50 dental practices to provide NHS services and a large number of these are taking on new patients.
“We are particularly focusing on areas where we know NHS dental provision is currently limited.
“Our plans include expanding provision in the Moulsecoomb/Bevendean and Hollingbury/Stanmer areas.”
An extra 25,000 people a year will be able to access NHS dentistry in West Sussex from September 1 following a £1.8 million investment.
For details of dentists accepting NHS patients, visit www.brightonandhove.nhs.uk,www.westsussex.nhs.uk, www.esdw.nhs.uk or www.hastingsandrother.nhs.uk or call 0300 1000 899.
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