Primary dental care in the NHS 1948-2008

As in other areas of health care the NHS has shaped many of the changes that have occurred in dentistry during the last 60 years. Many of the advances in technology and treatment would have occurred whether there was an NHS or not as they have been heavily influenced by global advances. However, judging by countries of similar wealth but with little publicly funded dentistry the improvement in oral health since 1948 would probably not have been as significant without the NHS and many of the developments in dental education and the increasing emphasis on team dentistry may not have evolved.