A couple unable to see an NHS dentist in this area are making a round-trip of 850 miles to have their teeth looked after. Brian and Dianne Davison have been unable to find a dentist since moving back to the area three years ago and so make the 425-mile trip to and from their previous practice in Northumberland. The couple make the mammoth journey once every six months to see the hygenist and once a year to see the dentist and combine the trip with visiting family in the area. But Mr Davison believes that even without seeing relatives, the journey would still be worth the effort. He said that with fares on a budget airline only costing £21 each-way from Exeter to Newcastle, it would still be cheaper than paying for private dental treatment. 'It's about £50 return so for under £75 you get a scale and polish and an inspection,' he said. Mr Davison, from Chilsworthy, near Gunnislake, a former naval helicopter engineer who lived in the Westcountry for 30 years before moving to Northumberland in 1989, admits that people are astounded that he and Dianne, 57, travel so far to have their teeth looked after. He said: 'When I tell people they are surprised. They don't believe that I go that far to go to the dentist.' 'When I tell them that that's where my family live they realise it makes sense but they still can't believe it. They say, "I just wouldn't bother to go" but we thought that if we didn't go we'd never get to see a dentist again unless we paid.' Mr and Mrs Davison have tried to register with two practices in South East Cornwall in the last year but have heard nothing after filling in the initial forms. Mr Davison says it is a shame that everyone cannot find NHS treatment close to where they live. The 56-year-old, who was in the navy for 22 years and now works as a member of civilian staff with Devon and Cornwall police, said: 'It's fine if you have to pay a small fee but in this country you should be able to have the service as it was meant to be on the NHS. It should be available to anyone.' Sarah Fisher, spokesman for the North and East Cornwall Primary Care Trust, said she had called the Dental Helpline and had been told that the situation with NHS dentists in the Gunnislake and South East Cornwall area 'wasn't too bad'. She said: 'Our advice to anyone seeking NHS dental treatment would be to contact the Dental Helpline on 0800 371192 and keep in touch on a fairly regular basis until they can find NHS dental care.'
