On Friday 17 July, our Chief Executive Officer, Jasem Greval, joined a panel of experts at Lys Kernow for Cornwall’s first Dentistry Summit, organised by Cornwall Council.

The event brought together people from across the dental and healthcare sectors to have honest conversations about the challenges facing NHS dentistry and, importantly, what we can do together to improve access for people across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Working together to improve access

For us, the summit was a fantastic opportunity to share some of the work our teams are already doing to bring dental care closer to the communities who need it.

During the panel discussion, Jasem spoke about Smile Together’s approach as an employee-owned Community Interest Company and how we’re using community services, prevention and outreach to help tackle oral health inequalities.

From our Mobile Dental Unit, which takes care into communities, to our school-based prevention programmes and partnerships with local organisations, we’re always looking for new ways to reach people who may find it harder to access traditional dental services.

“Behind every number is a person or family who simply wants to access the dental care they need. There is no single solution, but by working together across the NHS, local authorities, education and community organisations we can make a real difference.”

— Jasem Greval, Chief Executive Officer, Smile Together

Sharing what we do

As well as taking part in the panel discussion, we had our own exhibition stand at the summit, giving us the chance to showcase some of the work happening across Smile Together.

Visitors could find out more about our:

• 🚐 Mobile Dental Unit, bringing dental care directly into communities

• 🦷 Urgent dental care services, helping patients access care when they need it

• 🪥 School oral health programmes, helping children develop healthy habits from an early age

• 🤝 Community partnerships, working alongside organisations to reach underserved groups

• 🌱 Prevention and outreach initiatives, helping tackle oral health inequalities before problems arise

• 👩‍⚕️ Workforce development, supporting the current and future dental workforce

It was brilliant to be able to talk about these projects, but also to hear from others about the work happening across Cornwall and the ideas that could help shape the future of NHS dentistry.

There’s no single solution

The challenges facing NHS dentistry are complex, and there isn’t one answer that will solve them overnight.

What the summit highlighted for us is the importance of working together.

As an employee-owned Community Interest Company and the UK’s first B Corp-certified dental practice, our purpose goes beyond providing dental care. We reinvest our profits into improving oral health and reducing inequalities, and we’re proud to be part of a wider network of organisations working towards the same goal.

The Dentistry Summit was a valuable opportunity to share what we’ve learned, listen to others and strengthen the partnerships that will help us continue making a difference.

We’re incredibly proud of our teams and the work they do every day across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly — and we’re looking forward to continuing the conversation about how we can make NHS dentistry more accessible for local communities.

Need urgent dental care?

If you don’t have a regular dentist and are experiencing an urgent dental problem, such as severe toothache, swelling, uncontrolled bleeding or dental trauma, you can contact 0333 405 0290.

Outside of the service’s opening hours, please contact NHS 111.

Patients will be clinically assessed and, where appropriate, referred for an urgent dental appointment.