1. Presentation to the PCT

2.  To find out how often the local population visits the dentist  To compare local statistics with national statistics  To find out the reasons for any decline in visits the dentist  To suggest a strategy for the PCT

3.  Changes in:  Dental service  Costs of treatment  Targets (UDAs)  Statistics  Dept of Health April 2006 – March 2007 28.1 million people with NHS dentist 50,000 fewer than in previous year  Dentistry Watch survey July-September 2007 50% of adults and 30% of children fail to visit a dentist

4. 78% of private dental patients left the NHS because their dentist stopped treating NHS patients, or because they could not find an NHS dentist. 6% of all patients said they had treated themselves, including extracting their own teeth, because they were unable to get professional treatment >50% of all patients (and almost 50% of all NHS patients) didn't understand dental charges Almost 20% of NHS Patients have gone without treatment because of the cost However … 93% of those receiving NHS treatment were happy with the treatment that is provided

5. Local residents do not visit the dentist as often as they should because of the increased cost of dental treatment.

6.  Residents of my town will not visit the dentist as often as they should do.  A significant proportion of local residents will not be aware of the recommended frequency for visits.  Increased costs have affected the frequency of visits.  A significant proportion of local residents will not know the new NHS charges.  A greater proportion of local people will have a private dentist than an NHS dentist.  The local availability of NHS dentists will have decreased in the last 5 years.

7.  Target population  Sampling frame  Sample  Method  Size  Frequency  Data protection  Factors affecting reliability of data

8. Age band Population % Sampling frame Male %Female %Total % <=1826.315 30 19-2913.87714 30-4423.312 24 45-6424.212 24 >=6512.4448

9.  109 questionnaires issued  54% return rate targetactual <=181820 19-29810 30-441416 45-641413 >=6540 5859

11.  96.61% registered with a dentist  Registered with an NHS dentist  52.54% registered with NHS dentist  46.15% of all adults surveyed  65% of all ‘children’ interviewed Type of registration: Private2542.37% NHS3152.54% Don’t know11.69% No response23.39% 59

12. better dental care28% own went private1352% could not find NHS28% family go there520% other312% 25100%

13. NHSPrivate very satisfied1754.84%1456.00% fairly satisfied929.03%83.87%728.00%84.00% neither39.68%416.00% fairly dissatisfied26.45%00.00% very dissatisfied00.00%0 3125

15. male dentist3766.67% female dentist1833.33% Gender of NHS dentists (% of total) MaleFemale England60.939.1 Telford And Wrekin PCT53.146.9 Survey Registered dentists

17. Band 1Band 2Band 3 know 1071 don't know 495258 actual £15.90£43.60£194.00 highest £42.70£80.00£189.00 lowest £11.50£30.00£189.00 average £21.40£44.63£189.00

18. QuestionThey visitedRecommend <18 Recommend adult 3 mths23.4%610.2%0 6 mths3661%4678%3355.9% 12 mths915.3%610.2%2033.9% 2 years23.4%046.8% only when problems35.1%11.7%1 when dentist tells me610.2% 11.7% no response11.7%00 59

20. CriterionResultsProved or not? 1Residents of my town will not visit the dentist as often as they should do. The sample visited the dentist more often than recommended and about the same as the national average Not proved 2 A significant proportion of local residents will not be aware of the recommended frequency for visits. About 90% of the population were not aware of the recommended frequency for under 18s. About 56% of the sample thought the recommendation for adults was more often than it was. Proved 3 Increased costs have affected the frequency of visits. People were not aware of the cost of treatment – this is unlikely to affect visits Not proved 4 A significant proportion of local residents will not know the new NHS charges. At least 90% of the sample did not know the current NHS dental charges Proved 5 A greater proportion of local people will have a private dentist than an NHS dentist. More of the sample went to an NHS dentist. % of patients with an NHS dentist is about the national average. Not proved 6 The local availability of NHS dentists will have decreased in the last 5 years. NHS Information Centre indicates that numbers have actually increased Not proved

21.  This hypothesis has not been supported because: 1. Local residents visit the dentist every 6 to 12 months – on a par with the national average 2. Visits are more frequent than recommended 3. People were not aware of the cost of treatment – this is unlikely to affect visits 4. There are more NHS dentists in T&W than national average. More people went to an NHS dentist than a private one

22.  Conduct further qualitative study on targeted groups  Educational campaign to highlight locally:  Numbers of NHS dentists  How to find an NHS dentist  Value for money (including charges)