Reforming NHS dentistry

doi:10.1136/bmj.39546.440822.80

BMJ 2008;336:1202-1203 (31 May), doi:10.1136/bmj.39546.440822.80

Editorials

Reforming NHS dentistry

Equitable distribution of affordable dental services is stillpossible

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

The accompanying analysis article by Thomas and colleagues providesroutine data on hospital admissions and case reports to supporttheir assertion that "admissions for surgical drainage of dentalabscess are a result of changes in the provision of primarydental care in the United Kingdom."¹ Are Thomas and colleaguescorrect in their assumption? What have been the effects of the"new contract"—launched in England and Wales in 2006—onNHS dentistry?

The new contract was perceived as a portal to a new era of NHSdentistry. No longer would the general dental practitioner bechained to the "treadmill" of a "fee per item" NHS service butwould focus on the prevention of dental caries, periodontaldisease, and oral malignancies, thereby allowing for a morestress-free working environment for dentists and patients. Dentaleducators, dental hygienists, and dental therapists were ofcentral importance in the new contract as providers of expertisein . . . [Full text of this article]

Ruth Freeman, professor of dental public health research

¹ Dental Health Services Research Unit, University of Dundee, Dundee DD2 4BF

r.e.freeman@chs.dundee.ac.uk

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Is there an epidemic of admissions for surgical treatment of dental abscesses in the UK?: Steven J Thomas, Charlotte Atkinson, Ceri Hughes, Peter Revington, and Andrew R Ness
BMJ 2008 336: 1219-1220. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]