Dental injury caused by seizures? Epilepsy Society says ‘Fix it for Free’
With the government pledging to review the NHS dental contract, Epilepsy Society is asking for a medical exemption from fees for people with epilepsy who damage their teeth as the result of a seizure. Between 50,000 and 100,000 people are affected and living with broken and damaged teeth.
Epilepsy Society hosted a panel event, Fix it For Free at the Liberal Democrat Party Conference on Monday 22nd September to discuss how to address the issue. Chaired by Ruth Rankine, Chief Executive Officer of NHS Federation, the panellists were:
Clare Pelham, Chief Executive, Epilepsy Society
Eddie Crouch, Chair, British Dental Association
Olly Glover, Liberal Democrat MP for Didcot and Wantage
Andy Evans, Chief Executive Officer, Dentaid
Katharine Macy, Chair, Liberal Democrat Disability Association
Rhian Slaymaker, British Association for Dental Nurses
Olly Glover, Liberal Democrat MP for Didcot and Wantage
Ruth Rankine opened the discussion by explaining that while seizures due to epilepsy are medical incidents, they are not classified as such. If you fall and break a bone you can be treated free of charge at A&E but this is not the same with dental damage – broken and missing teeth - which is out of your control. Ruth asked the panel: how can we design an integrated, fairer system?
The panellists recognised that oral health is important for overall health and were sympathetic about the challenges facing people with epilepsy. Dr Katharine Macy highlighted that treatment should be free in an emergency situation, especially if someone has a disability.
Epilepsy Society’s Clare Pelham emphasised that seizures could not be compared to a fall where you might have time to break the fall with a hand. In a seizure you plummet straight to the ground without warning. She explained that one young woman has six missing teeth due to seizures and she is only 29. She cannot afford to fix her teeth and it impacts on her speech, self confidence and ability to find a
Rhian Slaymaker, from the British Association for Dental Nurses, has epilepsy, and she said she couldn’t do her job if she had dental trauma. She called for an intervention as it affects so many people.
Eddie Crouch from the British Dental Association suggested that specialist care and preventative treatment could be delivered from the dental underspend but that the number of dentists leaving the NHS would need to be addressed. Olly Glover MP stated that there needs to be wider reform before tackling specific issues and we should be realistic about what is achievable given funding constraints, but he agreed that everyone needs access to emergency care.
Chief Executive Officer of Dentaid, Andy Evans, which provides dental clinics for people experiencing homelessness, harm, poverty and abuse said; “In the past, community dental services would have been able to support people with epilepsy but these have reduced and reduced…there is a solution out there. The bigger the voice, the more people start listening”
If you have suffered damage to your teeth due to a seizure, email us at press.office@epilepsysociety.org.uk to share your story and get involved in our #Fixit4Free campaign.