As I sit down to write this blog for the very first CDS week, I have been reflecting on my own journey; initially working in general dental practice, then working in Community Dental Services (CDS) for more than two decades, and now also striving to make a difference for CDS dentists as the Chair of the England Community Dental Services Committee (ECDSC).
Not everyone knows the role of CDS dentists. They work in an NHS primary care dental service which treats patients not usually seen in conventional high street services. They provide a specialist and highly skilled form of dentistry, and the support given to child and adult patients has to be very carefully tailored based on specific dental care, as well as their overall holistic needs. They make up a crucial part of the dental workforce, delivering care for some of the most vulnerable patients in our society. Too often their role is overlooked, misunderstood and undervalued. This is an enduring message that we continue to hear from our members.
We therefore devised the idea of CDS Week with the aim of securing greater recognition and appreciation of the role of dentists who work within the CDS. This week signals the start of our endeavour to spotlight CDS dentists, recognise the challenges they face and, most importantly, campaign for solutions.
We hope to raise their profile in terms of the critical role they fulfil for a variety of patients, to set out how a career in the service can be rewarding if the right resources are provided, and to illustrate why they are a such a critical part of the wider NHS workforce.
But, revisiting my own journey as a CDS dentist, I would not be comfortable if CDS week was merely perceived as an exercise that ‘glosses over’ the fundamental challenges the service is currently facing.
The nation’s ability to deliver dental treatment for some of the most vulnerable groups in our society is now at risk. As the voice of dentists and dental students, we at the BDA are calling on all parties involved with the service to make sure community dentistry is finally given the priority it deserves. We have put together a summary of our vision for securing the future of community dentistry in England. This is a ‘call to action’ from community dentists themselves on how to end a crisis that has gone under the radar of decision makers for far too long.
Despite the many challenges, I want to also foster a real sense of pride for all that the current workforce continues to achieve. While there are hurdles, CDS dentists are passionately committed to delivering exceptional quality care to those most in need.
In our series of CDS Week blogs you will hear from frontline CDS dentists at various stages of their career and will be given an insight into the rewarding work they do. They will also set out the issues that they face in their roles, and the actions that could be taken to improve their working lives and, in turn, the lives of the patients they care for.
ECDSC will continue to advocate for CDS dentists in England, our patients, and services.
I would like to encourage everyone to thank CDS dentists within their areas for all they do for our services and our patients.
I am proud to be a CDS dentist, and grateful to work alongside a group of such dedicated, caring and hardworking professionals.
I believe that positive change is indeed possible provided there are sufficient resources, investment, and a commitment from all sides to progress.
