Free dental bus breaking a lifetime of decay

Available for over a year

A shortage of dentists across the UK has led a group of foodbanks in Newcastle to bring in a dental bus to treat adults and children who are in desperate need of care. A paediatric dentist says he often has to remove a dozen teeth from child patients, which he describes as “harrowing”. The charity, Dentaid, which visits areas of the UK with limited services, says it is the first time one of its buses have been in one city for a week due to the demand. Along with food bank users, all children in the area can attend a free screening and be given a fluoride varnish to prevent decay. In this episode of the 5 Minutes On podcast, the BBC's Anna Collinson has been to Newcastle to visit the dental bus to meet its users and care providers. (Image credit: BBC News)