DENTAL NEWS: Despite the stereotype that the British have bad teeth, better dental care -- especially among seniors -- is likely to lead to a shortage of items used by British dentists in the treatment of cavities, tooth erosion and root canals.
The British Dental Association's (BDA) scientific adviser Professor Damien Walmsley says that the demand for dental supplies that were originally designed only to be used for 20 years could exhaust resources in the British government-run system of dental care in the near future.
BDA research has found that fewer than a third of the over-65s in England currently have their own teeth, but within 20 years that is likely to increase to about 50% of them.
"Decay will cause problems as older people tend to get a different kind of decay, often around the gums, which needs to be treated differently," Professor Walmsley said. "There may also be teeth erosion. We can use compounds to build up teeth as well, as fluoride varnishes to strengthen and protect them."
Walmsley went on to say that there needs to be more research into how best to tackle these problems, something he acknowledged the Department of Health is already doing. "The NHS will need to commission services to meet the needs of all people including those who, because of age, infirmity or complex needs, may have difficulty in accessing traditional dental services," said British Health Minister Ann Keen.
DENTAL VIEWS: I can't imagine American dentists running out of fillings, crowns or any type of supplies for that matter with the free market dental care system we operate under. (Insert sarcastic comment here. Go ahead; don't be shy.)
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