Reflections on 2023

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18 December 2023

Reflections on 2023 and our focus for the year ahead

By Catherine Rutland, Clinical Director at Denplan

As the year comes to a close and we head into 2024 with a general election on the horizon, I would like to take a moment to reflect on the last twelve months and look forward to our priorities for what is likely to be a significant year ahead.

2023 started with our final submission to the Health and Social Care Committee’s inquiry into dentistry and concluded with the publication of our 2023 Oral Healthcare Report. Between these significant updates, we’ve seen:

1. A sector still at crisis point

Nine out of ten NHS dental practices are unable to offer appointments to new adult patients.¹

2. How good oral health continues to be a significant enabler of good overall health

Poor oral health impacts sleep, functionality, and self-esteem and contributes to other health issues such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.¹

3. The cost of living impacting people’s ability to take a preventative approach to their oral healthcare

Many people are being forced to cancel dental appointments because they can’t afford them, only to pay later for emergency treatment.

4. The importance of dentists in helping maintain the health of the nation

59% of Brits say they see the same dentist more consistently than they see the same GP.

As we look forward to 2024, with what I am sure will be renewed energy and desire to tackle the big challenges facing the UK’s health and care system, Denplan will be focused on keeping dentistry at the top of the agenda, engaging with Government and parliamentary decision makers – and maintaining the relationships we have built this year.

Our priority will be to continue advocating for the role of mixed practice, with NHS and private as a solution to the wider provision of oral healthcare in this country. It is our ambition that we continue to support NHS dentists by advocating for a reformed dental contract that meets the individual needs of dentists and offers flexibility where necessary.

However, focus shouldn’t be on contract reform alone. More needs to be done to ensure there are enough practitioners to meet the rising demand for dental care. This year, we saw the long-anticipated publication of the NHS long-term workforce plan. In 2024, Denplan will work closely with policymakers in charge of its implementation. This includes supporting the continued professional development of dental teams as well as providing recommendations on how we can make better use of wider dental teams – including dental therapists and hygienists.

Finally, we will continue to champion prevention, and the role that mixed and private practice can have in supporting these ambitions. NHS dentists are often faced with the challenge of having to focus on routine treatment. However, if properly supported, dental practices can play an important frontline role in improving the nation’s health by noticing changes in a patient’s health and making referrals to other healthcare services where appropriate. Our 2023 Oral Healthcare Report found that 28% of people have discussed other health problems with their dentist, and 15% were referred to another health practitioner following an appointment.²

It is with this focus that we enter the new year. While political and policy attention will be stretched across multiple priorities, we are focused on ensuring that dentistry remains at the top of the political agenda and that stated ambitions to support the sector by parties across the house are maintained.

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Looking back on 2023