A patient's view of dentistry 20 years ago, now, and in 20 years' time.

Abstract

The expectations that 2012 Britain has of its healthcare system is a far cry from Aneurin Bevan's 1948 vision of a National Health Service (NHS) as he opened Park Hospital in Manchester. Originally designed to treat diseases of poverty and emergency, the modern NHS now spends much of its time dealing with diseases of excess: smoking, eating, drinking, and vanity.