‘If teeth are deficient health inequalities will be exacerbated’

• TOM Foot’s report (Funding plea as dentists run out of room for more NHS patients, July 22) raises the question – why?

Dentists, surely, are paid for the treatment offered to NHS patients. The question is how much? What percentage of the cost? And if not the going rate why not?

Recently I learnt that a payment of £75 per visit for dental hygiene has to be met by NHS patients – why?

And why does an NHS patient have to sit, watch, and wait, while it is evident that private patients are ushered in to the dentist first?

The fact that dentists will only accept NHS patients if they have the space, at present earmarked for private patients, is reprehensible. Certainly if teeth are deficient health inequalities will be exacerbated.

The health department must address these inadequacies. Dental services have been the Cinderella services for too long and this must be addressed.

MARIGOLD SAUL
Address supplied