TV's Dispatches Investigates Unethical Dentists

A TV documentary, 'The Truth about Your Dentist' on Channel 4 at 8.00pm on Monday 23 May promises to lift the lid on the unethical practices of some of the UK's dentists.

From what I've read about the programme, it will highlight problems with present-day NHS dentistry - the sort of issues that persuaded me, after 20-odd years, that I could no longer provide within an NHS framework the sort of care my patients deserved. These are also issues that should make make members of the public think very carefully about who they are going to trust to treat them and their families.

Of course the programme will be sensational and exaggerate outrageously - What people tend to forget is that a television programme is first and foremost a business deal for the people making the show. If it's controversial it attracts more viewers and without high viewing figures the programme makers can't get the funding they need for the next show they want to make. Nevertheless, it sounds as if there will be a lot of interesting content in 'The Truth about Your Dentist'.