Dental reform

SIR – Liz Eales’s comments (Letters, April 25) apply as much to NHS dentistry in England as in Wales.

The NHS dental contract introduced early this century replaced the original system of paying dentists for work performed according to a complex, but carefully costed, scale of fees. Under the new contract, no dental practice can afford to provide comprehensive treatment to patients with extensive or complicated requirements.

It is high time NHS dentistry redefined its role to provide basic pain relief and care for those unable to access or afford routine treatment elsewhere. There is a case for offering more generous provision to children, in order to establish a dentition that can be maintained throughout life.

In my career as a consultant orthodontist, I have seen technology advance tremendously. With adequate funding, it is now technically possible to ensure excellent dental appearance and function for practically all. The benefits of orthodontic treatment range from the trivial and cosmetic to the profound and life-changing. We should reappraise priorities, and even introduce an element of means testing for precious NHS resources.

Dr David Howells

Llannon, Carmarthenshire

SIR – Liz Eales may well be right to blame Tony Blair’s government for the state of NHS dentistry in Wales today.

However, she also suggests that the Conservatives have been in power long enough to have improved the situation. This is surely not correct, as NHS matters are devolved to the Labour government.

Geoff Hill

Bristol