Biting point

The report on the growing shortage of clinical academics faced by UK universities (News, June 10) made two highly significant points. The piece noted that the number of dental academics is in worrying decline and that, as a result of this trend, the Government's plans for a new dental school appear undeliverable.

It is important to highlight the implications of these facts on the provision of dental care in the UK. The shortage of dentists has reached crisis point, and the necessity of training more dentists is obvious. The Government has listened to the British Dental Association's advice that the number of undergraduate training places must be increased and has begun to act. But the 25 per cent increase in undergraduate dental places scheduled for the start of the 2005-06 academic year doesn't look plausible in light of a 6 per cent decrease in the number of dental academics. Unless dental academia is properly staffed and resourced, it will not be possible to create a new dental school and teach an increased number of undergraduates.

With the Government finally taking steps to tackle the shortfall of dental practitioners numbers by training more dentists, it would be a tragedy for patients and the profession if its failure to support dental academia were to scupper its plans. We also call on the Government, Department of Health and the funding councils to ensure that all funding for new dental places is spent on dental education and not top-sliced by universities and hospital trusts.

Ross Hobson.
Chair, Central Committee for Dental Academic Staff British Dental Association