Free dental bus in longest ever visit due to demand

The bus is spending five days in Newcastle, where local children can attend a free check-up

A dentist shortage across the UK has led a group of food banks in one city to bring in a special bus to treat adults and children for free.

The charity Dentaid said high demand in Newcastle meant it was making a five-day visit, which was the longest time it had spent in one place.

Appointments for dental treatment on the bus were filled within two hours, with more than 100 people on the waiting list, according to Newcastle Foodbank.

The Department for Health and Social Care said its Dental Recovery Plan included rolling out mobile dental vans to areas where access was more difficult.

It is the first time one of the charity's buses has spent so long in the same city

The Dentaid bus visits parts of the country with limited services.

In Newcastle, more than 50 volunteer dental staff and students have carried out the treatment.

Teeth pulled out

Along with food bank users, children in the area can attend a free check-up and be given a fluoride varnish to prevent decay.

One of its patients was five-year-old River, who was having trouble sleeping due to the pain in one of her bottom teeth.

After being assessed, she was taken to the treatment bus to have a tooth removed.

River was feeling better after her treatment, her mum said

“She had an abscess in her mouth and when they pulled the tooth out it just went pop,” said mum Natalie.

"It was horrible to see but how much longer would she have had to wait to get the treatment that she needed?"

A few hours later, River was feeling better, eating and playing with her dolls' house and looking forward to a good night’s sleep.

• LISTEN: The Foodbank Dentists

Paediatric dentist Dr Greig Taylor from Newcastle University, who carried out River’s treatment, said he was seeing children with more decayed teeth.

“It is really hard when you're taking out 10, 12 or 15 teeth from one child, some of whom are as young as two or three years old," he added.

“This isn’t really setting them up for life.”

'Avoidable'

Researchers from the university have been monitoring patients across the week, and in the first two days found the average child had three teeth which were either decayed, filled or missing.

The most severe case had 19 such teeth.

One in three children in the North East live in poverty, which can mean poorer overall health.

Dr Emma Lim, a paediatrician from the Great North Children’s Hospital, was involved in bringing the dental bus to Newcastle.

“We have wards and wards of children who are having surgery for something that you could avoid, that is shocking," she said.

“That is for the price of a toothbrush, toothpaste and a bit of knowledge.”

Mockey Gban was referred for further NHS treatment after having his tooth taken out

Food bank user Mockey Gban, 58, came to the dental bus in pain. His face was swollen and he was desperate to be treated.

“I always ask the dentist, but they say they’re full, they’re full,” he said.

The dentist found Mr Gban had an infection, so they took out the tooth and referred him to the city's dental hospital for further NHS treatment, which is being offered to every patient seen at the bus.

“Our clients see dental treatment as a complete luxury,” said Carole Rowland from Newcastle Foodbank.

“They are fighting daily, to get food, to feed and clothe their children, to try and survive this cost of living crisis.”

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said the Dental Recovery Plan set out how up to 2.5 million extra appointments would be created this year.

“We are also strengthening the dental workforce to ensure everyone can access a dental appointment when and where they need it,” they added.

Earlier this year, the Conservatives voted down a Labour amendment to rescue NHS dentistry.

The party said if it came to power it would "reform the service in the long-term".

Preet Kaur Gill, shadow public health minister, added: "It’s appalling that one in six children have tooth decay. We can’t carry on expecting kids in pain with rotting teeth to grin and bear it."