Today's announcement of improvements to NHS dentistry in Wales has met with broad support from the British Dental Association (BDA). The announcement of more training places for dentists and the allocation of money for the NHS dental service in Wales are described by the BDA as the first steps back towards an NHS dental service able to meet the needs of all patients.

Stuart Geddes, BDA Director for Wales, said:

"Today's announcement of extra training places and the allocation of funding for dentistry in Wales sends out a positive message to all those concerned about the future of NHS dentistry. Scenes in towns such as Carmarthen, where hundreds of people have queued in the hope of accessing NHS dentistry, have underlined the shortfall in dental provision that currently faces Wales.

"These measures bring Wales into line with recent announcements about the NHS dental service in England and go some way to clarifying the uncertainties facing NHS dentistry here. Just as the recent announcement in England represented a welcome first step back towards a better NHS dental service there, this announcement represents an equivalent first step back for Wales."

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Notes to editors

1. The British Dental Association is the trade union and professional association for dentists across the UK. It has nearly 20,000 members working in all fields of dentistry, from general practice to the armed forces.

2. For further information, or to arrange an interview with a BDA spokesperson, please contact the BDA media team on 020 7563 4145/6.