StoneRock Dental Care

  • About Us
    • Patient Journey
    • Testimonials
    • Our Fees
    • StoneRock Prevention and Platinum Plan Membership
    • The Gentle Dental Philosophy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Access Statement
  • Our Team
    • Ian Kerr
    • Russell Blanchard
    • Antonio de Vivo
    • Guy McLellan
    • Matthew McNulty
    • Arwa Al-Khaburi
    • Hygiene Team
    • Pawel Lasota
    • Nursing Team
    • Customer Service Team
    • Osteopath Team
    • Chiropractic Clinic
  • Treatments
    • Cosmetic Dentistry
      • Whitening
      • Bridges
      • Porcelain Crowns
      • Porcelain Veneers
      • Direct Composites – white fillings
    • Invisalign
    • Adult Orthodontics
      • Inman Aligner
    • Smile Solutions
    • Family Dentistry
    • Wedding Day Smiles
    • StoneRock Facial Clinic
      • Non Surgical Facial Treatments
      • Plasma Rich Growth Factor (PRGF) Facelift
    • Periodontal Care
    • Hygienist Care
    • Osteopath Clinic
    • Dental Health
    • Dental Pain
    • Snoring and Sleep Apnoea
    • Smoking Cessation
  • Implant Clinic
    • All on 4 Implants
    • Implant Retained Crowns
    • Implant Retained Bridges
    • Mind The Gap – Missing Teeth
    • Implant Fees
  • FAQs
    • What is Cosmetic Dentistry?
      • Cosmetic Dentistry – Frequently Asked Questions
    • Inman Aligner FAQs
    • What is a Root Canal Filling?
    • What is an Dental Implant?
    • What is a Crown?
    • What is Fibre Reinforced Composite?
    • What is a Veneer?
    • What’s in a Smile?
    • What are Dentures?
    • What is PRGF® ?
  • News
  • Contact Us
    • A Healthy Mouth, Our Top Ten Tips
    • Ask A Question
    • Patient Referral
    • Links

There is a scandal brewing, but it is not this one Mathew Parris

July 16, 2011 by Ian Kerr

Mathew Parris is usually some one you can rely on for sensible comment but on this occasion (Saturday’s edition of The Times 16.07.2011) he is guilty of rehashing a disappointingly familiar misconception of dentistry. In his article “The Next 20 Scandals” Mathew states –

Dentistry and the NHS are a murky business where the service and private practice appear to live in a baffling symbiosis on which dentists thrive and for which patients, both paying and would-be NHS users, choose between the queue and financial ruin. Dentistry should be like car repair: it’s only teeth, for God’s sake. Where’s the market?

This statements contains all you need to know about a lot of peoples feelings about dentists and dentistry but it really does not stand any degree of scrutiny.

1) “a baffling symbiosis”. The symbiosis between private and NHS is not in the least bit baffling. You either pay privately or you pay for NHS (unless you are exempt NHS charges). This is hardly baffling. Dentists are required to explain their fees before treatment begins and must indicate if work is being provided on a private or NHS basis. If they fail to do this it is not a fault with the system, more a fault with the dentist.

2)”On which dentists thrive“. Maybe its me being paranoid but the implication seems to be that dentists thriving is a bad thing. If it is a bad thing then lets look at a world where dentists don’t thrive- a world where they employ less people, generate less taxable revenue, invest less in training and technology, reduce the time and money invested in improving services for patients, spend less time on treatments to help them boost falling revenues, take fewer risks in expanding their businesses, leave the profession for alternative employment, give less freely of the time for teaching of students and their peers- is this really a better world?

3)”Choose between the queue and financial ruin“- really is that the only two choices out there. Are none of us offering staged treatment plans, payment options, prevention advice to lower disease activity, mixed practices to try and offer all service levels?

4) “dentistry should be like car repair” – what we after here- grubby surroundings, wildly unrealistic estimates, unlicensed premises with no regulator bodies, no compulsory post graduate training (no undergraduate training for that matter)? Would our patients be happy with no comfortable relaxing waiting areas, no highly trained and efficient reception teams, written treatment plans and estimates derived from careful discussion of their needs? Would they really prefer us to take one look inside their mouths, do the ubiquitous sharp intake of breath and say the immortal words “it’s gonna cost ya”?

5) “it’s only teeth for gods sake” Perhaps the most telling comment of the lot and certainly the saddest. How an intelligent and educated man such as Mathew Parris can give voice to this view is beyond me. They are only teeth until they go wrong- then they are a source of pain, infection (potentially fatal), misery, social embarrassment, childhood teasing and bullying. Oral health and general health are intimately linked and the treatments are carried on people who often have complex medical and psychological concerns that need our expertise and understanding.  We help people with these problems on a daily basis and are happy to do it.  No one with tooth ache will tell you they are just teeth; no one who struggles socially and is desperately unhappy with their smile will say they are only teeth; no one who’s child has fallen of a bike and smashed their front teeth will say-don’t worry they’re only teeth.

6) “where’s the market”– Our market is the entire population who need our help, advice, treatment and care throughout their entire lives.

The saddest thing of all is that Mathew is right, there is a scandal coming but it is not the one he alludes to. You can take your pick from the effects of an ever increasing burden from unnecessary and restrictive bureaucracy (do MPs really need to discuss whether people should be allowed to have whiter teeth) , the continuing chaos in the General Dental Council (the fitness to practice panels struggling to cope) , the massive cuts in hospital based dentistry( multiple unit closures and reductions in consultant posts in London alone), the spiraling costs of providing care, the exponential increase in litigation fueled by “no win;no fee” lawyers……etc. I doubt these will be given much voice in the press as these require a more sympathetic view of dentists and their teams but these are the ones that will really shape the future for dentists and their patients. Lets start discussing these now, before it’s too late.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Behind the Headlines

About Ian Kerr

Dr Ian Kerr BDS qualified in 1989 from Newcastle University Dental School and has worked ever since in both private practice and hospital settings. Following a short stint in a busy general practice in the North East Dr Kerr went to live and work in Trinidad, where he learnt a wide range of surgical skills and developed an interest in the treatment of tempero-mandibular joint dysfunction (TMD). On returning to the UK in 1994 Dr Kerr worked in a prestigious private practice in Bromley in Kent. During his time there he completed extensive post graduate training in advanced restorative techniques and further advanced his interest in TMD.

Sign up to our newsletter

Sign up to the quarterly StoneRock newsletter, to be kept informed of our latest news, events and special offers plus educational pieces about dental health.

Connect with StoneRock

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Search

Latest News

  • LLM by Research for Ian Kerr BDS MSc
  • Invisalign
  • Invisalign Open Evening May 10th

StoneRock on Facebook

This message is only visible to admins.
Problem displaying Facebook posts.
Click to show error
Error: Server configuration issue

About StoneRock Dental Care

StoneRock Dental Care is a stunning dental practice in Hawkhurst, Nr Cranbrook on the Kent and East Sussex border. We provide every level of care, from routine family dental visits to complete cosmetic dental makeovers, including dental implants, teeth whitening, veneers, bridges and other cosmetic dental and facial aesthetic techniques.

We know how hard it can be to choose a dentist and we know how tough it can be to decide what treatment is right for you, therefore we put your comfort and your well being at the heart of every treatment that we provide.

You can contact us on 01580 752202 or info@stonerock.co.uk

Latest News

  • LLM by Research for Ian Kerr BDS MSc
  • Invisalign
  • Invisalign Open Evening May 10th
  • Administration Manager Job Role
  • Qualified Dental Nurse
  • Receptionist Job
  • Children’s Dental Health
  • Trainee Dental Nurse

Follow us on Twitter

  • StoneRock remains open. Currently there are no restrictions with regard to medical treatment, it is both safe and e… https://t.co/Envx37AI7Fover a year ago
  • https://t.co/Mhzk0GyGLN https://t.co/9zQs4dijTvover a year ago
  • https://t.co/DZlEnyMPmv https://t.co/DoIs1YjNvEover a year ago

© Copyright 2023 StoneRock Dental Care, All Rights Reserved · Legal · Cookie Policy · Site by Nick Ebdon

StoneRock Dental Care is a trading name of SR Moors Limited · Registered Office: Stonerock House, High Street, Hawkhurst, Kent TN18 4AG · Registered in England and Wales, Number: 6896953