The British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy (BSDHT) has thanked the British Association of Dental Nurses (BADN) for their support of the BSDHT's campaign to raise awareness and inspire change for chairside dental nurse support to be the accepted norm for all dental hygienists and dental therapists working in clinical practice.

To drive the campaign forward the BSDHT has lent its full support to BADN in their call for dental nurses to be recognised for their contribution to dentistry. Dental nurses are registered dental care professionals and must be recognised as such - by employers, by colleagues and by the NHS.

BSDHT supports BADN's call for all dental nurses in general dental practice to be paid a salary which acknowledges not only their invaluable contribution to the dental team but also their training, knowledge and professionalism. This does mean not just minimum wage.

The NHS should also afford dental nurses working in NHS practices the same rights and benefits as all other NHS employees.