West Earlham Dental Practice is an NHS Practice so children can be seen at no charge with the additional benefit of being enrolled onto our Teeth For Life Programme.
My Work With Dental Mavericks And Local Charities
As Heard On BBC Radio with Nick Conrad
Recently I was asked to appear on BBC Radio Norfolk to discuss how difficult it is to see an NHS dentist in Norfolk.
I was talking to BBC presenter, Nick Conrad during his section on why we need some dentistry that is available to all people.
As Heard On BBC Radio Norfolk
Recently I was asked to appear on BBC Radio Norfolk to discuss the state of childrens teeth in the area.
I was talking to BBC presenter, Nick Conrad during his section on “Tooth decay – Norfolk dentists are calling for more education to stop unnecessary tooth loss”.
Lebanon has been known in more recent times for its volatile political climate and high levels of poverty. Something else that remains an issue there, however, is access to dental care.
I’ve heard about charity relief elsewhere in the world for a long time and I just felt like I could be doing more. Through dentistry, I have a skill that can be utilised and so, rather than just donating money to a charity, I wanted to do something different, something more related to my skills.
Article Published In The Dental Tribune
Norfolk dentist, Dr Gautam Sharma, flew thousands of miles last week as part of an international mission to provide dental treatment and preventative advice to displaced families from Syria.
In recent days, he has worked alongside medics and specialists from a variety of organisations and academic institutions, and has performed extractions and treatments for more than 300 patients – many of which are children.
The work is part of a global outreach programme, which sees Dr Sharma working collaboratively with a group dubbed the Dental Mavericks. A follow-up for all those treated is scheduled to take place in around six months’ time.
Article Published In The Probe
A dentist from Norwich has thanked the many dozens of East Anglian businesses, schools, and individuals who are helping him enhance the lives of Syrian refugees in Lebanon.
Dr Gautam Sharma, who sees NHS and private patients at his West Earlham Dental Health Practice, is days away from participating in a specialist charity mission, where he will provide dental care to refugee adults and children, as part of a recently established outreach programme.
He said: “There is one and a half million Syrian refugees sitting in that valley who’ve fled Syria to try to get better conditions and they’ve got no sort of dental aid or help and they’re in a lot of pain.
Article Published In The Eastern Daily Press
Norwich dentist on helping Syrian refugee children in Lebanon
He was determined to spread a little of his Norfolk cheer in the communities and schools of Lebanon and Norwich dentist Dr Gautam Sharma has being doing just that after he flew thousands of miles to provide dental treatment and preventative advice to displaced families from Syria.
In recent days, he has worked alongside medics and specialists from a variety of organisations and academic institutions, and has performed extractions and treatments for more than 300 patients – many of whom were children.
Article Published In The Eastern Daily Press
A Norwich dentist swapped tooth work for legwork as he donned his walking boots to raise money for charity. Dr Gautam Sharma pushed his body to the limit as he walked 17 miles through the Welsh mountains in less than 15 hours to raise money for Nelson’s Journey.
The walk had the doctor completing more than 55,000 steps to beat the target time across 10,000ft of mountain range. Dr Sharma was supported by the team and his patients at West Earlham Dental throughout the challenge.
He said: “I put my mind and body on the line to do something positive that I have not done before. I would like to thank all the patients and friends of the practice who donated for the cause, which has fantastically raised over £500.”
(Article taken from the Eastern Daily Press – 20th July 2017)
Crisis warning as four in 10 children in Norfolk and Suffolk do not visit a dentist
Take A Peak At This It’s No Small Feat!
As Seen In The Eastern Daily Press
Gautam Sharma, who sees NHS and private patients at his West Earlham Dental Health Practice, said figures released by the Local Government Association (LGA) this week that 43,000 children and teenagers underwent “completely preventable” operations were not surprising.
The analysis of NHS spending data found £36.2m was spent on the procedures nationally and there was an almost 20pc increase in extractions over the past four years.
Having been in practice since 2009, Mr Sharma admitted he was worried things were getting increasingly worse, and said both parents and children lacked sufficient education around dental health.
He said: “Sadly, the insight given nationally this week about a huge rise in children having extractions, is something I very much see across the NHS and private patients I see at my practice. It is deeply disturbing, and I sense that we’ll see this data continue to get worse year on year.”
Dr Sharma said a mass education approach is necessary to help curtail the increase in the alarming rates.
“We need more joined up thinking across schools and community health outreach to ensure that families really understand the implications,” he said.
“With year on year reductions in the NHS dental budget, the government is making it extremely difficult to tackle the grass root issues of the problem.”
Dr Sharma and his team have made prevention of decay their core objective and have started their own teeth for life programme, as well as voluntarily teaming up with the Sure Start Centre to deliver free oral healthcare messages to their local area.
“As a professional, but also as a parent, it worries me hugely that the message is not getting through,” he said.
“My team and I are passionate about changing the understanding, and the best approach is for us to emphasise prevention. I would welcome the opportunity to talk to schools or community health projects on this area because I really want to do all we can to ensure fewer children across the region are facing extractions at a premature age.”
“Your Talk has been inspirational and thought provoking”
