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Calderdale is winning war on bad teeth as more visit dentist

Calderdale is winning its war on bad teeth.

More people are going to the dentist and more cash is being spent on oral health.

New figures show the number of people in the district receiving NHS dental care rose by more than 5,000 last year to 119,411.

And the NHS report also shows Calderdale Primary Care Trust spent £44.40 per head on dental care in 2006.

That is above the West Yorkshire health authority average of £43.90 and the national average of £39.20.

It has risen from £39.50 between 2004 and 2005, and £40.90 between 2003 and 2004.

As reported by the Courier, a council investigation revealed a third of residents were not seeing a dentist, and some parents were failing to have their children's teeth examined early enough.

The findings also showed West Yorkshire residents had the worst teeth in the country and Calder-dale had some of the worst oral health in West Yorkshire.

Ian Waugh, dental contracts manager at the Calderdale trust, said: "The situation is a lot better than it was two years ago."

They have cleared more than 10,000 people from dentist waiting lists. There are currently only around 150 on the list, and they should be seen in the next few months.

The health trust is working on more projects to improve the district's teeth.

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