Dentists warn of a two-year delay for surgery with children most in need
DENTISTS are warning of a two-year delay for surgery — and many of those in the most need are children, they say.
Two in five dental surgeons think the backlog from the pandemic will take at least a year to clear. One in five think it will take more than two.
And a quarter of those surveyed said that most patients on their surgery lists were children, a poll by the Faculty of Dental Surgery revealed.
About 389 patients in England have already waited two years for surgery, the faculty added.
Its latest report warns that patients waiting for dental treatment are often in pain, making it difficult to eat and sleep, and delays can lead to a deterioration in their condition and ultimately mean more complex treatment is required.
Dentists and dental surgeons have been forced to stick to strict infection control rules due to Covid-19.
Matthew Garrett, the faculty’s dean, said: “Particular efforts must be made to ensure timely access to dental treatment for children and vulnerable adults, including those with special educational needs.”
"Eight in ten of our members told us they were back providing routine procedures, and the majority are providing emergency treatment.
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"That said, the pandemic created a significant backlog of patients needing treatment, which will not be cleared anytime soon."