MORE than 1,000 people have received treatment at a Leigh dental practice that makes it its mission to “bridge the gap between the NHS and private care”.
Wisdom Dental, in Elm Road, says it has seen “a lot of new patients” come through the door of the service that provides cosmetic and general dental treatments since it opened in March.
It comes figures showed just 45 per cent of Southend’s adult population were seen by an NHS dentist in the city in the two years leading to June 30, with 60 per cent being seen in 2017-19.
Wisdom Dental says it aims to give people a direct line to services - even if patients are registered at non-private practices - if they are struggling to get an appointment with their provider.
The dental firm has highlighted its services after Aston Line, Labour councillor for Southend’s Westborough ward, revealed that the council’s public health team phoned “every NHS dental practice in Southend” and found that not a single practice was accepting new patients.
This is seen as a major issue which is affecting towns and cities across the country, which shows many are now “dental deserts”.
Sophia Lucas, dental hygienist at Wisdom Dental, said: “We have been open about eight months and have seen a lot of new patients.
“Our aim is to try and bridge the gap between NHS and private dental care, such as offering adult check-ups for £50 and kids going free.
“With out hygienist appointments, it costs £60 but if you go to the NHS, you are looking at £70 or more.
“At Wisdom Dental, people can just call up and get direct access to our services, even if they are registered elsewhere.
“There are no registration fees, but we do get bookings come in fast. However, we still have capacity to see patients needing treatment.”
As well as hygienist services, the practice also offers teeth whitening, teeth alignment, minor teeth damage restoration and the change of shape and shade of the teeth.
A spokesman for the Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System, which oversees Southend, Basildon and Broomfield hospitals, said: “Patients who require urgent NHS dental treatment should contact their regular dental practice or if they do not have one, NHS111 should be contacted.”
For more information about Wisdom Dental, visit: wisdomdentalleigh.co.uk, or call: 01702 886840.
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