New NHS dentistry reforms receive a mixed response from oral health charity

20 July 2020
A new package of proposals to reform NHS dentistry in England has received a mixed response from the Oral Health Foundation.
In a letter penned to dental practices, NHS England outlined the first significant changes to the delivery of NHS dental care in 16 years.
Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the Oral Health Foundation, says: “The new reforms to NHS dentistry are welcome changes in the right direction.  The long-awaited adjustments to UDAs should make it easier to treat high-need patients and go some way in reducing inequalities.  The dental profession has been calling for such changes for over a decade, so they are long overdue.
“We are also supporting the move of allowing dental therapists to start courses of treatment, although even more must be done to fully utilise the skills of the entire dental team.
“Unfortunately, the new reforms stop well short of addressing urgent issues within NHS dentistry, such as the diminishing workfor...