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Strategic Direction
Targets
General Commentary Dental health in Doncaster will be improved in two ways. The first is to prevent dental disease, particularly in children, through dietary advice and proven preventive measures such as fluoride. The other is to develop dental treatment services for the benefit of all, and reduce any inequalities in provision. To achieve the targets for decayed, missing or filled teeth it will be necessary to achieve fluoridation of water supplies. The residents of Doncaster suffer from high levels of dental disease and this is due to a number of factors. The lack of fluoride in the water supply is a contributory factor as is the shortage of general dental practitioners in the area. Surveys, as indicated in the Director of Public Health's Annual Report, reveal that the dental health of 5 year olds, which is poor, has hardly improved in the last 10 years, although the dental health of teenagers has shown a continuously steady improvement over the last 12 years. Registration rates with general dental practitioners are average for 0-2 year olds, but above average for almost all other age groups. The provision of orthodontic services is a particular problem because of the lack of general practice orthodontists and orthodontic waiting times are, consequently, at an all time high of two years, and rising in the Doncaster Royal Infirmary. The lists of general dental practices in Doncaster are now largely full and there is a need for an increase in the number of dentists providing NHS care. Further information can be obtained by downloading the full text version of the Health Improvement Programme for Doncaster 2000 - 2003. Any comments on this section should be submitted to the Theme Lead, Nigel Thomas, Doncaster Health Authority, White Rose House, Ten Pound Walk, Doncaster DN4 5DJ, email nigel.thomas@doncaster-ha.trent.nhs.uk |