05/03/2012

BDA Warn Against Dental Cuts

The British Dental Association is urging the Executive to rethink dental service cuts.

A 6% reduction in dental service funding would cause services to deteriorate the BDA warned.

Claudette Christie, National Director of the BDA in Northern Ireland, said: "The cuts would reduce some of the treatments available to the patients, most notably how frequently you could have your teeth cleaned at the dentist.

"That would go back to once a year from four times a year. 'No longer available

"That's a very significant change... and it's important that you do that to manage and maintain your oral health.

"The dentist would have to ask the health service in advance if they could do them and that would introduce a delay for patients and we think all of that would disadvantage our patients' oral health.

"If you take money away, naturally jobs will follow and resources will follow."

(GK)


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