BDA welcomes Wales’ ring-fenced dental budget news

The British Dental Association (BDA) has responded positively to the news that dental budgets for 2015/6 will be ring-fenced for all local health boards across Wales.

In addition to announcing this step, the Welsh government has confirmed that the budget for the Designed to Smile oral health programme has also been ring-fenced. The BDA has been campaigning for some time for a continued government commitment to supporting improvements to oral health for children in Wales.

A recent epidemiological survey of Welsh three-year olds demonstrated that the poorest families in the country are much more likely to suffer from oral health issues. The report also indicated that Designed to Smile should continue to be focused on the most deprived young children.

Richard Birkin, the BDA's director for Wales, said: "We urge the Welsh government to ensure improvements in oral health are kept on the agenda."

The association also recently called for the introduction of a new tax on sugary food and drink as part of ongoing efforts to tackle tooth decay in the UK.