Many people ask us, “but why not NHS?”

27 / 08 / 2024

Many people ask us, “but why not NHS?”

Our team always values the importance of being open and transparent with our community. In recent years, we are all aware that NHS services have become less accessible in dentistry, and we are often asked why we are unable to offer routine care through NHS services at present. For the purposes of transparency, we feel that it is important to be open about this subject and offer you more information.

Our small independent practice operates under a notably limited NHS contract, which is one of the smallest in Suffolk.

Recruiting dentists to our practice is a significant challenge due to the constraints of our small contract. We want to assure you that we will never voluntarily give up on the NHS and will try all that we can to secure a bigger contract so that we can roll out services to the local community.

We appreciate your support as we navigate these challenges and strive to provide the best possible care for our patients. We are deeply committed to patient care and ensure that no patient in pain or in need of urgent treatment is ever turned away. We always reserve spaces in our daily schedule specifically for same-day appointments. However, due to the small size of our independent practice and the limitations of our contract, these slots are very limited, and all cases are triaged to prioritise urgency accordingly.

In addition to our practice operations, we are committed to community outreach. We will be actively offering volunteer work in schools and nurseries starting September 2024, because we are fully aware of the challenges in accessing dental care for children. These efforts are part of our dedication to promoting oral health and helping to prevent dental issues from a young age.

We work alongside services that do offer NHS treatments, and frequently make referrals to these accessible services. We can refer cases for complex oral surgery, and work closely with the community dental services to make referrals for those in need. Three of our dentists work for the NHS as well as with our team. They work with the community dental services, treat NHS cases for the oral surgery department at ESNEFT, and actively volunteer with the Dentaid charity to offer community dental care in mobile dental units.

In the meantime, our team have made significant efforts to make independent dentistry more affordable to the community by introducing various affordable pay-monthly routine dental care plans, along with in-house financing options and 0% interest plans.

We understand that dental treatment can become difficult to budget, but by being a routine care plan member, you can enjoy discounted rates of preventative services such as regular check-ups, hygienist appointments, and x-rays.

You will also benefit from discounted treatments should you ever need them. Early detection and intervention of dental problems when they arise can help to prevent the need for more extensive and expensive treatments in the future.

Having regular dental check-ups offers peace of mind, knowing that your oral health is being closely monitored and cared for by our professional, friendly team. Instead of worrying about potential dental problems or unknown causes of discomfort, routine visits allow you to stay ahead of any issues and maintain confidence in your smile.

We want the whole community to be able to enjoy a lifetime of healthy smiles. Why not prioritise your oral health today? Read more about our affordable practice plans here.