NHS Dentists' Shortage Blamed For Cancer Crisis

Tue, 29 Jan 2008

A lack of NHS dentists is leading to a rise in the number of mouth cancer -related deaths, according to the head of the British Dental Health Foundation.

Nigel Carter, chief executive of the BDHF, has urged the government to improve the availability of UK dental care to ensure early detection of the cancer .

"The survival rate of mouth cancer has not improved in 30 years," he said. "If people were able to gain easier access to a dentist then the 50 per cent mortality rate could be significantly improved."

"It is Britain's secret cancer despite killing more people annually than cervical and testicular cancer put together. We need funding at ground level to ensure people are given easier access to dental care," he added.

The number of people affected by mouth cancer continues to rise each year in the UK . In 2004 there were over 4750 new cases of mouth cancer registered in Britain, according to data from Cancer Research UK .

The BDHF fear that people missing out on regular dental check-ups are also missing out on oral cancer screening, which is vital for early detection of the cancer .

Although survival rates vary depending on the type of mouth cancer, survival for all types of cancer is greatly improved if the disease is detected at an early stage.

A recent Citizens Advice Bureau survey, which polled 1800 people in England and Wales, found 300 patients had been left frustrated in their attempts to locate an NHS dentist, suggesting up to 7.4 million adults are being affected nationwide .
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