full April Bulletin - Biggleswade Rugby Club

10 BULLETIN APRIL 2012 TEL: 01234 834700 EDITORIAL: editorial@biggleswadebulletin.co.ukThe truth behind the allegeddental check-up scamWHY NOT JOIN US?Good Old Fashioned ServiceCall our professional team on 01525 713389centralbedfordshire@bluebirdcare.co.ukRecruitmentExcellent care workersare the lifeblood of ourbusiness and we aredetermined to recruitonly the most professionaland caring people.www.bluebirdcare.co.ukYOU MAY have recently readnewspaper articles, and I am surethere will be many more in futuremonths, about dentists andwhether the recommended sixmonthly check ups really are necessary.These articles appear tohave been leaked by the manygovernment ‘spin-doctors’, whoare constantly looking at newways to try to save money. Thearticles are based on the NationalInstitute for Clinical Excellence(NICE) guidelines. NICE is abody which has frequently been inthe news for refusing costly treatmenton the NHS, and in thesearticles they have carefully selectedtheir comments, and usually outof context, and claim that NICErecommend that patients onlyneed to a dental check-up everytwo years.This is absolute rubbish!In fact when you read theguidelines, they quite rightly saythat patient dental examinationintervals should be tailored to theindividual patient, ranging fromthree months to two years foradults and three months to oneyear for children. Ballard andTucker totally agree with this andyou can read the guidelines foryourself at www.guidance.nice.org.uk/CG19.At an examination, your dentistwill check the health of your teethand gums and all the surroundingtissues for signs of decay, infectionsor early abnormalities. Forsome patients, two years is far toolong a gap between visits. Ofcourse there are always exceptionsto the rule; if a patient has a full setof dentures or have excellent teethand healthy gums, then two yearsbetween examinations is fine, butthese patients are in the minority.Most of us, including us dentists,need to be seen more often tomaintain our oral health.In some cases patients are seenat varying intervals. For example,many patients suffer from gumdisease so will need frequent visitsto the hygienist as well as an annualcheck up with their dentist.Some may have active tooth decayand require a three monthly visitfor a time, or they may have a wisdomtooth that needs regularreviewing.It is also important that childrenare checked on a regularbasis. This is not just to maintainhealthy teeth and gums but also toget them used to the ‘visit to thedentist’. Sometimes children’spermanent teeth may growcrooked and a regular reviewhelps us assess whether they needan orthodontic brace so they willdevelop nice even teeth.So there is no hard and fastrule. Each patient is an individualand the frequency of dental checkupswill vary.I’ll never forget one patientwho said to me: “Mr Ballard, Iwould rather pay to have no dentaltreatment than pay to have treatmentdone.” A valid point, butunfortunately one that the governmentdoesn’t seem to share!For more information aboutoral hygiene and dental care visitwww.ballardandtucker.co.uk or toarrange an appointment callBallard and Tucker on 0844 5769888.TRADESMENA space this size is only£30 per month (in black and white).The Bulletin reaches 14,000 homes inBiggleswade, Sandy, Potton and Beeston.Call 01234 834700