Dentists and their teams from across the country are being asked to share their views on how to improve the access to and quality of NHS dentistry by Professor Jimmy Steele, chair of the independent review team for NHS dentistry.

The five engagements in Newcastle, Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester and London are being held during April and May. Remaining engagements include Bristol on 12 May 2009 and Birmingham on 13 May 2009.

Since its appointment in December 2008, the review team has been investigating why there are variations in access to dentistry in England and how the NHS can deliver continuous improvements in the quality of care.

At the events, Professor Steele will discuss the emerging findings of the review with people involved in delivering and improving NHS dental services, inviting them to contribute to the development of recommendations. He commented, 'The NHS dentistry review is giving me and the review team some very useful insights into what matters most to both patients and the dental profession. I'd like to encourage dentists and their teams to share their opinions at these events and help us start to develop our recommendations.'

The results of the study, 'A Review of NHS Dentistry in England' will be published this summer. For further information visit www.glasgows.co.uk/dentistryreview and for details on the NHS independent dentistry review, or to read Professor Jimmy Steele's blog visit www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/Primarycare/Dental/DH_094048.

If you would like to contribute to the NHS dentistry review in writing, please send your views and recommendations to Jimmy Steele at dentistry.review@dh.gsi.gov.uk or by mail to Professor of Oral Health Research, School of Dental Sciences, Newcastle University, Framlington Place, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4BW.

Members of the independent review team for NHS Dentistry are Professor Jimmy Steele, Chair in Oral Health Services Research at the School of Dental Sciences in Newcastle, Eric Rooney, Consultant in Dental Public Health at Cumbria PCT, Janet Clarke, Clinical Director of Salaried Dental Services, Heart of Birmingham Teaching PCT and Tom Wilson, Director of Contracts, Milton Keynes PCT.