Dentists crisis

Finding an NHS dentist locally may be a thing of the past according to a Citizen's Advice survey.

The survey revealed that 82 per cent of NHS dentists in Hastings and Rother cannot take on NHS adults.

Although the CAB only surveyed 50 people in the Hastings area as a part of their national UK survey, the figures show more and more people are forceed into private dentist care.

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As the cost of private dentist work is rising year after year, many people are struggling to meet the cost of private dental treatment and some simply go without.

The CAB estimate that 2 million people across the UK are unable to find an NHS dentist. They fear many people will not receive any dental care until the damage is severe or irreparable. Conditions like gingivitis, a gum disease which can lead to tooth loss, is on the increase.

A St Leonards dentist said: "NHS resources are stretched which limits the amount of NHS patients that I can take on.

"In my practice I've treated patients who have had little dental care or haven't attended any check ups for several years.

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"Without people having regular check ups the problems of tooth decay can lead to severe problems of gingivitis and tooth loss. The cost to repair the damage of years of neglect are high.

"Hastings and Rother Primary Healthcare Trust recognises that some people in Hastings may experience some difficulty in accessing an NHS dentist. We have 33 dentists here who offer NHS treatment, but only five are currently accepting new NHS patients."

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