In a personal blog to accompany a review of NHS Dentistry, Professor Jimmy Steele has called for politicans and the dental profession to “buy in” to the review’s recommendations.

Prof Steele – Professor of Oral Health Services Research at the University of Newcastle – led the independent review of NHS Dentistry, which was published on Monday (22/06/09).

The review recommends that a proportion of a dentist’s income be linked to the number of NHS patients registered at a practice, rather than just the number of NHS treatments provided. It also calls for more accountability from dentists regarding the quality of their work – including how long a treatment, such as a filling, lasts.

The review also places more emphasis on preventive measures, including dentists making time to advise patients on oral care.

In Prof Steele’s final blog for the Department of Health’s Dentistry and Dental Services website on Tuesday, he said that producing the report was “easy”, but that the next stage of improving NHS dentistry required commitment.

“Implementing real change is a considerably greater challenge, particularly in a time of tight finances. To do the next bit there is going to need to be real leadership from the profession and the Department of Health.”

The British Dental Association and The British Dental Health Foundation both welcomed the findings of the review.

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