Dentistry. Open wide

The government's plan to invest 18 m Pounds to encourage dentists to do more NHS work is not likely to arrest the move towards private practice. Although health authorities are to be made accountable for delivering a dental strategy they will have no control over the work of dentists in their area. Dentistry remains out of line with the NHS's founding principle of providing free care at the point of access. The government has not addressed the problem of shortage of dentists in some areas. Dental hygienists and therapists should be allowed to undertake more routine work.