Time to #FixIt4Free
The Epilepsy Society is today calling for the NHS to provide free dental repairs to teeth damaged by seizures.
This comes as new data reveals that a staggering 58 per cent of people with epilepsy who responded to our survey faced dental repair costs they could not afford. Many subsequently went without treatment. And this is not a niche issue: over two-thirds have broken or chipped their teeth as a result of a seizure.
This startling data, gathered as part of our survey conducted in March and April 2023, lays bare the challenges facing people with epilepsy who often suffer severe damage to their teeth as a result of their medical condition.
That is why, today, the Epilepsy Society is launching FixIt4Free, our campaign calling for free dental repairs for people who have damaged teeth during a seizure.
Background
Having heard many stories over the years from our supporters about the prohibitive cost of dental repair, we decided something needed to be done. And this has only been confirmed by the results of our survey. A shocking 85 per cent of respondents with uncontrolled epilepsy told us they had experienced cuts on their tongue, lips or inner cheek as a result of their seizures, while 69 per cent had broken or chipped their teeth.
Some 61 per cent had experienced jaw ache, and a further 36 per cent had suffered from debilitating tooth pain as a result of injuries sustained during a seizure. Worst of all, there is the constant fear of repeated damage to teeth caused by ongoing seizures. There is no clear end point to this. A person with epilepsy could pay thousands of pounds to repair their teeth, only to have a seizure and break their teeth again the very next day. This is a serious financial burden.
Dental exemptions
While the NHS does have some payment exemptions for dental treatment – notably for pregnant women and under 18s in England/under 26s in Scotland – there are currently no medical exemptions. Programmes such as the NHS Low Income Scheme cover costs for some people, although only the very lowest earners. 82 per cent of our survey respondents are not eligible for this scheme.
As things stand, the overwhelming majority of people with epilepsy have to pay for dental treatment. At the Epilepsy Society we are calling for free dental repairs where the damage has been caused by an epileptic seizure. And, according to our survey, 96 per cent of our supporters agree.
Although dental costs have been raised time and time again by our supporters, it is by no means the only issue. Respondents to our survey also highlighted broader frustrations with NHS Dentistry, with 54 per cent noting that they had experienced long waiting lists and 80 per cent raising concerns about lack of awareness of epilepsy from dentists.
Time to #FixIt4Free
While we are officially launching our campaign today, this is by no means the start of the journey. We have already been in discussions with the team of the Chief Dental Officer for England, representatives from the Department of Health and Social Care, MPs and leading members of the Scottish Parliament. For this campaign to be successful we need to lobby senior politicians and decision-makers, while also building a grassroots movement.
We believe that epilepsy is the only medical diagnosis where an individual can repeatedly fall over and suffer damage to teeth as a direct result of their condition. Yet, currently in all four nations of the UK, people have to pay for restorative treatment.
If you feel this is unfair, join us! Write to your MP, sign our petition, share our infographic on social media, read our personal stories and send us your own thoughts on free dental treatment. You can reach out on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or via campaigns@epilepsysociety.org.uk