As published in The Probe, in an open letter from dentists to Health Secretary Wes Streeting warns that failing to meet demand for urgent dental care increases pressure on the health service, as antibiotics become a substitute for treatment.
During the pandemic, the likelihood of a dental appointment leading to an antibiotic prescription rose significantly. Research led by Dr. Wendy Thompson from The University of Manchester, published today, shows prescribing levels across the UK remain higher than they would have been without the pandemic.
Though the Government has commissioned 700,000 urgent appointments, the British Dental Association says unmet need is far greater.
Dr. Thompson, who also chairs the FDI World Dental Federation’s Preventing Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and Infections task team, said: “Too many people have been unable to access urgent dental treatment for toothache and have ended up with antibiotics. The best way to protect us all from the existential threat of antibiotic resistance is to ensure patients have timely access to urgent care.”
She added that routine monitoring of antibiotic prescribing is essential, but without digital integration, tracking prescriptions remains impossible. “Integrating high-street dentistry into NHS digital systems will be an important part of national efforts to help keep patients safe.”
> Since you’re here, why not read about the link between paracetamol and medical complications?
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