Oral healthcare is facing a critical juncture. NHS dentistry has been at breaking point for several years, exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. An estimated 40m dental appointments were lost during the pandemic, creating a backlog that the system still cannot address. We have also seen children’s oral health decline in recent years, with tooth decay – a preventable condition – remaining as one of the most common reasons for hospital admissions among five to nine-yearolds. This issue is exacerbated for children living in deprived areas, who are three times more likely to need dental extractions in hospital. With many patients failing to secure NHS dental appointments and the lingering cost-of-living crisis, 40 per cent of the UK population is unable to afford dental care, forcing them to delay or forego treatment altogether, further worsening the dental health crisis.
The situation we now find ourselves in highlights a broader issue – the lack of access to preventative oral care and a low public awareness around how important it is to prioritise it, with less than half (49 per cent) of the UK public thinking preventative care for oral health is very important.
While we are encouraged by the Labour government’s plans to address the state of UK dentistry, we recognise that change won’t happen overnight, and a collaborative approach to finding solutions is essential. Greater collaboration between industry, government, and the dental profession is needed to truly improve the state of oral health in the UK. By working together, we can enhance access to care, improve oral health education, and ensure long-term sustainability for the nation's oral health services.
Addressing challenges
At Haleon, we recognise the unique challenges facing patients and oral health professionals in the UK. Over the past two years, the company has collaborated with the College of General Dentistry (CGDent) on the Dental Health Barometer campaign, investigating the provision of preventative oral care across the country. Following the launch of this campaign in 2023, Haleon has continued to explore evidence-based recommendations on how it can work as a profession to improve consumers’ access to preventative oral care advice.
The initial research, published in 2023, revealed that many oral health professionals struggle to provide consistent preventative care advice during appointments due to factors like time constraints, a lack of patient requests, the need for longer appointment durations, and insufficient NHS reimbursement.
This year, after uncovering the extent of the problem through the insights gained in surveys, Haleon wanted to be part of the solution and hear directly from oral health professionals through focus groups about how we can work collaboratively to address some of the challenges identified. Alongside CGDent, Haleon published the Dental Health Barometer Report, revealing oral health professionals’ recommendations on how to improve the provision of preventative oral healthcare.
The report gathers insights from over 70 oral health professionals across the UK, derived from seven focus groups, and offers recommendations to align intentions with the practical delivery of preventative oral care. These discussions aimed to identify solutions for the challenges highlighted in our initial research.
A pivotal moment in time
Our findings and proposed solutions come at a crucial time for the future of dentistry in the UK, particularly with the new government in place. While the Labour government’s Dental Recovery Plan has been met with cautious optimism, many in the dental profession believe the proposals fall short of addressing the underlying issues such as preventative care.
The proposed changes to the NHS dental contract aim to provide better incentives for dentists to offer comprehensive care rather than focusing on high-volume procedures. Reforms to the current contract dental health professionals are working under is one of the key areas where we can offer better support in delivering preventative oral healthcare, building on existing foundations but introducing a concerted redirection of energy.
As is stands, the current structure of NHS contracts do not allow adequate time and reimbursement to cover preventative oral care techniques. As a result, the focus remains on treatment rather than prevention. The lack of time spent with patients is also a critical issue. Building long-term relationships with patients is important for oral health professionals, essential for providing continuous education and monitoring in regular appointments. Without these relationships, it can be difficult to offer the kind of preventative care advice that can make a lasting difference.
Another area identified in the report, is the Department of Health’s Delivering Better Oral Health (DBOH) Toolkit. The DBOH is only sparingly used by practitioners once out of university education. We know it is a useful resource for professionals, so there is work to be done in repackaging the toolkit to make it more engaging, user friendly and patient-focused to be fit for purpose.
It is also crucial to instil good oral hygiene practices and behaviour change at a young age. By providing consistent, nationwide oral health interventions, such as supervised tooth brushing, through early year education, these habits can be brought into adulthood and help improve the state of children’s oral health.
The rise of misinformation about oral health is another issue highlighted in the report. Tackling this requires a coordinated effort from dental professionals, policymakers, and public health organisations. By providing clear, evidence-based guidance and promoting simple, effective habits, we can counteract harmful misinformation and encourage better oral health practices.
Collaboration for Change
Looking ahead, it's clear that prevention must become a cornerstone of our approach to oral health. For oral health professionals, this means advocating for a more prominent place within the public health system and pushing for better support in terms of resources, education, and professional recognition. We encourage and support the new government to reform NHS contracts and integrate dental care into the broader healthcare system.
Working together, healthcare professionals, policymakers, and the public, have the opportunity to redefine the standard of care in the UK and go further by prioritising prevention. In time, we can make oral health education more accessible, relieve pressure on oral health professionals, and improve the nation's overall health.