BDA welcomes planned family dentistry reforms

The British Dental Association (BDA) has welcomed the government's announcement that it will be piloting schemes designed to explore new pathways for family dentistry in England.

Dr John Milne, chair of the BDA's general dental practice committee, has expressed confidence that test initiatives for new contract models will lead to an improved quality of NHS dental care.

The pilot measures are to focus on the provision of accessible continuing care and will diverge from the current target-driven model, which was implemented in 2006.

Dr Milne noted that the present system has been heavily criticised by dentists and the BDA, while welcoming the new care quality-focused approach outlined by the Department of Health.

He added: "These pilots must be afforded sufficient time for their impact on oral health to be properly understood and the results from them must be fully evaluated."

This comes after Local Dental Committee representatives voiced their support for a BDA-led campaign to reduce red tape in the UK dental sector earlier this month.