On 10 May 2016 the British Endodontic Society (BES) and Sir Paul Beresford MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group of Dentistry, held an interactive event in the Houses of Parliament to raise awareness of the value of root canal treatment.

A number of MPs attended the drop-in event and met BES President Michael Waplington and his team of specialist endodontic experts. Attendees had the opportunity to get hands-on with a dental microscope and see first-hand how root canal treatment works using model teeth, and sit in a dental chair in Parliament.

Sir Paul Beresford MP with members of BES

At the event, MPs discovered that a recent survey released by the BES (with 436 responses from dentists) showed that 93% of dentists believe that the current dental contract does not recompense dentists fairly for the delivery of root canal treatment. The survey also showed that 85% of dentists were not confident patients in their area had access to specialist endodontic treatment on the NHS. To combat this problem, the BES are campaigning for better recognition of root canal treatment in the reform of the NHS contract.

Mr Waplington said: 'The event was attended by numerous MPs and Lords. We had the opportunity to explain to them how every year thousands of teeth are removed in the UK, when they could in fact be saved through root canal treatment. All attendees were highly engaged and supportive of our cause and we look forward to working with them to ensure root canal treatment receives the recognition it needs and deserves.