Seven things to look out for in dentistry in 2017

This year, we hope to see many areas of interest which have been a long time in the making finally come to fruition, with some elements promising to have a significant impact on all of our oral health for years to come. Here, Nigel Carter, CEO of the Oral Health Foundation discusses seven things to keep an eye out for in the coming year in dentistry:

1. New contract on the horizon

“A long time in the making and edging ever closer, the new dental contract is something which will undoubtedly help shape Britain’s dental health for generations to come. Although we are unlikely to see it introduced nationwide before 2018, this year we will be watching with vested interest as many of the current trails come to an end; will we finally see the focus on preventative dentistry come to fore?”

2. Will local authorities take control?

“At the very end of last year, NICE released their guidance on oral health in communities with recommendations for local authorities to become more involved in signposting available services to people in their area to help stop the spread of dental disease. This year we hope to see them show just how committed they are to oral health as we wait to see if they truly grasp the vitally important role they can play in promoting better oral health within their communities.”