Dental Queries Received by Healthwatch Cheshire, November 2022 to September 2024
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Healthwatch Cheshire reported on feedback they received related to dentistry during the period from November 2022 to September 2024. In total, 185 pieces of feedback were received within this timeframe.
The most commonly reported issue was difficulty accessing NHS dentists, with people paying for private treatment, even when they would prefer not to. Those who could not afford private dentistry were increasingly accessing emergency care as their dental health declined. People also shared that poor access to dental care impacted their overall health, reporting pain, difficulty eating, and negative effects on their mental health and self-esteem due to dental issues.
Where people were able to access NHS dentistry, the feedback was generally positive, with people saying they were content with the basic services they could access.