Crystal ball gazing

Six years ago the Government forced changes of the dental profession. These changes have been lambasted by the dental profession and the health select committee. The same chief dental officer responsible for those changes is now conducting pilots to create yet another new NHS dental service. Being kind, you could say that he had learned his lessons and that would make him more capable. Naturally there is another school of thought which suggests the next contract will be anything but kind to his colleagues.

Given that the NHS dental services contribute only £4 out of every £10 banked by dentistry, an outsider could wonder why the tail is wagging the dog. The problem is that private dentistry lacks leadership. Since the BDA’s Choices programme 10 years ago there’s been no proactive initiative. Its General Dental Practitioners Committee has, over the course of the last nine years, failed to promote the development of private practice. The new BDA Principal Executive Committee has been remarkably quiet which is quite surprising. The chairman is noted for his experience in private practice and commercial understanding, however he and his committee have yet to make their mark.