With 1 in 3 people brushing their teeth once a day or less, during this National Smile Month NHS Suffolk is encouraging people to take better care of their teeth and visit an NHS dentist.

And the message is loud and clear – there’s an NHS dentist for everyone in Suffolk. Over the last two years eight new dental surgeries have opened in the county and NHS Suffolk has invested £4 million in increasing patient access to NHS dental surgeries.

The cost of dental treatment needn’t be a worry since there is a clear three-tier pricing structure:

What does it cost?
There are exemptions to costs – for example, treatment is free if you’re under 18. For further information, please visit www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk

Band 1 course of treatment = £16.50
This covers an examination, diagnosis (e.g. X-rays), advice on how to prevent future problems, a scale and polish if needed and application of fluoride varnish or fissure sealants. If you require urgent care, even if your urgent treatment needs more than one appointment to complete, you will only need to pay one Band 1 charge.

Band 2 course of treatment = £45.60
This includes everything listed in Band 1 above, plus any further treatment such as fillings, root canal work of if your dentist needs to take out one or more of your teeth.

Band 3 course of treatment = £198.00
This covers everything listed in Bands 1 and 2 above, plus crowns, dentures or bridges.

If you are not registered with a dentist call PALS, the Patient Advice and Liaison Service on 0800 389 6819 to find the location of your nearest practice.

Taking good care of your teeth is easy by following three simple steps:
– Brush your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste twice a day for two minutes each time to prevent decay
– Cut down on how often you have sugary food and drinks – try drinking water or milk as an alternative to a fizzy drink
– Visit your dentist as often as is recommended

If you are not registered with a dentist call PALS, the Patient Advice and Liaison Service on 0800 389 6819 to find the location of your nearest practice.

Tom Norfolk, dentist at Great Cornard, said:
“Taking good care of your teeth is vital. If you look after them, for example by eating well, not smoking, brushing them regularly and going for check ups with a dentist, you will be smiling. A fact that should broaden your grin is that there is an NHS dentist for everyone in Suffolk!”

You can find out more about National Smile Month by visiting www.nationalsmilemonth.org
For more information about NHS Suffolk visit www.suffolk.nhs.uk