Behind The Scenes At Torrington Dental Practice And What We’re Doing To Support Your NHS Dental Care
Access to NHS dental care is becoming increasingly difficult across the UK, with a shortage of NHS dentists available to meet the growing demand, particularly in rural areas such as Torrington.
We also understand how unsettling it can be when you have a change of dentist. You’ve built a relationship, grown to trust them, and then suddenly, you’re told they are leaving. Unfortunately, this experience is becoming increasingly common across the UK, and sadly, Torrington Dental Practice is no exception.
We appreciate the frustration this can cause, and we are doing our best to minimise the impact on patients. The situation is equally frustrating for the practice as we strive to recruit and retain a full complement of staff to maintain access to NHS dental care.
Some of the challenges relate to the national picture, where fewer and fewer dentists in the UK are willing to work in the NHS, due to the lack of investment in dentistry and repeated false promises by successive Governments. There are also local challenges with recruitment of dentists and staff within rural areas, a longstanding problem.
What This Means for You:
We know this situation is far from ideal, and we are working hard behind the scenes to:
- Minimise the impact on patients
- Continue to provide safe, consistent care for all our regular patients
- Offer as much continuity as possible during staff changes
- Keep emergency appointments and short-notice slots available
- Communicate clearly when changes affect your care
- Encourage patient feedback to help us improve wherever we can.
- Support our clinicians in delivering high-quality, ethical dentistry
We also invest in our staff to ensure they feel valued and fulfilled in their various roles, and we hope they will stay with us for many years. We are also very proud of our staff who leave to develop their careers further, such as Primrose, our former nurse, who is now training to be a dental therapist; or Molly, our former therapist, who is training to be a dentist; or Rob, our former dentist, who is now an internationally renowned implantologist.
What We’re Doing Locally to attract the NHS dental care workforce:
Teaching the Next Generation at Peninsula Dental School:
At the same time, Ian and Sammy work with Peninsula Dental School, helping train dental students from the earliest stages of their education. Their work includes teaching clinical techniques, supporting ethical and patient-centred care, and providing students with a real understanding of how NHS dentistry works, particularly the challenges and rewards of working in rural practices like ours.
By actively supporting young professionals throughout their training, we hope to build a stronger, more sustainable dental workforce and encourage more dentists to choose long-term NHS dental care careers in regions like North Devon, where they’re most needed.
Mentoring New Dentists:
Sammy and Cristina have recently been appointed as Educational Supervisors, meaning they now play a key role in mentoring and guiding newly qualified dentists during their foundation year—a critical transition from university to clinical practice. Through regular supervision, hands-on feedback, and structured development plans, they help young dentists build confidence, sharpen their clinical and communication skills, and feel supported within the profession. We are thrilled to be welcoming two new Dental Foundation Trainees to the practice in September.
Promoting Careers in Dentistry:
We are passionate about promoting careers in dentistry, and our team regularly visits local schools and colleges to speak with pupils and students about the opportunities available within the field — from clinical roles such as dentists and dental nurses to non-clinical support positions, including receptionists and practice management.
We also offer structured work experience placements for school leavers and college students, providing them with the opportunity to spend time in a real practice setting, observe treatments, meet patients, and gain insight into what it’s like to work in a caring and professional team.
It’s all part of making the profession more accessible and inspiring the next generation to consider it as a rewarding career path. Ian is also part of the Southwest workforce group and the North Devon Dental Steering Group, which is focused on attracting dentists to the region.
What We’re Doing Locally to improve access for those with the greatest need:
Oral Health Education:
We believe prevention is key. That’s why we regularly visit nurseries and schools, teaching children about good brushing habits, reducing sugar intake, and the importance of dental visits — all in a fun and age-appropriate way. By helping young people form healthy habits early, we can lay the foundation for a lifetime of better oral health. We also have an Oral Health Education suite where our oral health team can support patients, young and old, to look after their mouths and avoid treatment in the future.
Anxious patients:
Many patients are anxious about attending the dentist, and as a result, they often put off their visit until they have to. This creates a problem if they do not have a regular dentist and there is limited NHS access. The NHS has commissioned our practice to provide care for anxious patients, and we have a highly skilled team who are able to provide a variety of approaches, including sedation, to ensure that treatment is manageable.
Domiciliary Care:
We know not everyone can come to us, so we bring dental care to them. Our team provides home visits and sees patients in care homes when mobility, disability, or health issues make attending the practice difficult. This ensures that vulnerable patients, including the elderly or those with long-term conditions, still receive the essential care they need in a safe, comfortable environment.
Urgent care sessions:
As part of the Government’s commitment to improving access to urgent care, the local NHS have commissioned urgent care sessions from various practices, including Torrington Dental Practice. This allows us to help patients in pain, as long as we have the capacity to do so.
Stabilisation sessions:
The practice is also committed to helping disadvantaged groups who find it difficult to access care, through the provision of specific sessions. These sessions tend to focus on the young, the elderly, medically compromised patients and the homeless.
Community Advocacy:
We’re not just working within the practice – we’re also looking at the bigger picture. One of our dentists, Ian Mills, has been working closely with local MP Ian Roome to establish a North Devon Dental Steering Group in partnership to address local NHS dental care issues, including oral health promotion, NHS access, and workforce recruitment.
First class private dentistry:
We are also immensely proud of the skills and experience within our team, which allows us to operate as a referral centre for complex treatments. We offer a range of treatments on a private basis, including affordable family dentistry, orthodontics, oral surgery, advanced restorative dentistry, and implants.
In the face of national NHS dental care challenges, Torrington Dental Practice remains a highly respected provider of dental care in North Devon. Our team is deeply rooted in our community, and we are committed to continuing to serve our patients with dedication and excellence, regardless of the broader systemic issues.
