Shropshire Council has secured extra funding from NHS England to run oral health schemes for adults and children. The cash injection will allow the council to fund initiatives, including providing oral hygiene packs and buying oral health resources for early years centres and pre-schools. The toothbrush and toothpaste packs will be handed out via community hubs within targeted areas of the county. The additional health and hygiene resources for children will be provided alongside the hugely successful Brilliant Brushers scheme. Brilliant Brushers launched in 2022. It was developed locally wit ..read more

A Swindon councillor has called for dentists to start visiting schools, as children struggle to access NHS dental care. Statistics from NHS England suggest that more than 50% of children in Swindon don’t currently have access to an NHS dentist. The access rate of 47.6% in Wiltshire is slightly higher than the national average of 46.9%. An NHS England report was recently presented to Swindon Borough Council’s adult healthcare and housing overview and scrutiny committee. Some councillors suggested closer working relationships between schools and dentists would benefit pupils, particularly those ..read more

Dental practices in the North East of England have ramped up recruitment campaigns to fill gaps in the workforce. Practices across the region are advertising roles, with an immediate start available in many cases. Many employers have added incentives to lure dentists, dental nurses and hygienists to clinics based in Middlesbrough, Darlington, Morpeth, Gateshead, Newcastle and Durham. The North East, like many regions across the UK, is battling a shortage of NHS dental professionals, which has contributed to practice closures and longer waiting times for NHS patients. Recently, a practice in D ..read more

A new survey has revealed that more than 20% of Brits don’t currently have a dentist. A poll by YouGov suggests that 22% of adults are not currently on a practice list. More than a third of those who don’t have a dentist say they cannot find a practice accepting new patients and 5% of people are on a waiting list. Over 22% said they can’t afford dental treatment. The study showed that a deepening access crisis across England, Scotland and Wales is impacting patients, with 1 in 10 admitting they have tried DIY dentistry. Of the 10% who had attempted treatment at home, 56% had done so within th ..read more

Mydentist has confirmed that one of its Dundee dental practices will close at the end of March. The chain is shutting the clinic in Finlarig Terrace in Fintry on March 31st. The closure will result in two job losses and leave thousands looking for a new dentist. Patients have recently received a letter explaining the reasons for the closure of the Fintry practice and providing advice for finding a new dental practice. Mydentist representatives explained that staff shortages were the primary reason for closing the practice. The company has not been able to fill vacancies for dentists and this ..read more

Elegant Smiles is looking to expand after revealing plans to open a new dental clinic in Stamford. The business already runs practices in Grantham, Spalding, Lincoln and Heckington. Dr Israr Azraq has submitted a change of use planning application to the council with a view to converting a residential property into a new dental surgery. The four-bedroom detached house, which is known as Warrenne House and is located in Castle Dyke, would provide sufficient space for a new dental clinic with capacity to provide a full treatment list and training opportunities for apprentices. Dr Azraq said that ..read more

The British Dental Association (BDA) has urged the new First Minister to take urgent action on dentistry in Scotland. Nicola Sturgeon is preparing to step down as leader of the Scottish National Party and a new First Minister will take her place in the coming weeks. David McColl, chair of the BDA’s Scottish Dental Practice Committee, said that the new First Minister must make dentistry an urgent priority. The number of dental practices offering NHS services is falling, patients are struggling to access NHS dental care and dental workers are gravitating towards private clinics. Mr McColl claim ..read more

A therapy dog from Quito, Ecuador has gone viral online after helping children to stay calm during visits to the dentist. Aldo, a Golden Labrador, is based at Parque Dental in Quito. The clinic specialises in paediatric dentistry and has become world famous due to its cuddly, cute team member. Aldo sits and lies with children while they are in the dental chair and eases nerves before treatment. His presence helps to distract patients and provides a sense of security in what can be a daunting environment for kids. Aldo has proven to be an incredibly popular addition to the Parque Dental Team a ..read more

A husband and wife team has taken the reins at an Ipswich dental practice. Sayeed and Rushdiya Parker are the proud new owners of Ipswich Dental Care. Established more than 40 years ago, the clinic is located in Berners Street. The duo has worked at the practice previously and built strong relationships with the previous owners and other members of the team. The sale of the practice was overseen by Christie & Co. Steve O’Connor, senior business agent, said that he was thrilled to manage the sale of such an impressive and well-established dental practice in the heart of Ipswich. Sayeed and ..read more

A dentist is hoping to open a new dental practice in Nelson, Lancashire. Dr Ashraf, of Nelson Centre Dental Practice, has submitted a planning application to change the use of a terraced house in Raglan Street into a new surgery. If the plans are approved by Pendle Council, a single-storey extension will be added to the rear of the property, creating more space. The existing practice, which is located in Scotland Street, would relocate to Raglan Street. On the ground floor, there would be one treatment room and a reception and waiting area. On the first floor, the existing bathroom would rema ..read more