Calls to dental helpline soar

The British Dental Health Foundation say those seeking advice about their dental health over the last 12 months has increased by 17 per cent compared with last year.

The charity is finding that greater availability and accessibility to cosmetic dentistry, the prominence of sugar and diet in the media and the on-going confusion regarding access to NHS dentists are factors which are resulting in considerably more of us turning to the Dental Helpline for answers. 

The Dental Helpline, which provides callers with free, qualified, trusted and independent advice, has taken almost half a million calls since it was setup in 1997.

Karen Coates, dental advisor with the helpline, believes that despite the growing amount of online information available, the opportunity to speak directly with a professional is the key to why the Dental Helpline is currently thriving.

Karen says: "The growth of technology has shifted the way many of us now search for advice and information, particularly when it comes to our health. Over the last decade, this has seen a reduction in calls to many helplines – but it appears this trend has come to an end – for the Dental Helpline anyway.