Imminent dentist reforms spark concern

Dentists have been polled by the Patients Association to discover if the new contract for treatment, which will begin on Saturday 1st April 2006, will lead to an acceptable level of care.

Of the 684 dentists who answered the survey, only 2% thought the new contract would lead to a level of care that patients deserve, and just 4% said the new system, which will overhaul the pricing to make things more simple, offers better value for money.

The pricing changes mean that there will only be three pricing bands which are:
£15.50 for a check up
£42.40 for a check up and filling
£189 for work such as a crown

One of the reasons for change was to give dentists a 5% workload reduction so that they could spend more time advising patients about good dental hygiene practice and increase preventative work methods.

The trustee of the Patients Association, Dr Anthony Halperin, said: “The survey’s findings paint a bleak picture for NHS dentistry.

“The government needs to urgently reconsider its approach to dentistry in the UK so that proper access to long-term dental care can be assured for those patients who need the NHS option most.”

Addressing concerns over dentists choosing not to sign up to the new contract, and thus opting out of NHS service, Health Minister Rosie Winterton, said: “The early signs are that the vast majority of dentists will sign up. If dentists choose not to, the local NHS will use that funding to buy services from other dentists.”