Sir, we have seen the recent publication of the commissioning guides for specialist dentistry (Introductory guide and specialist pathways for orthodontics, oral surgery & oral medicine and special care dentistry). The guides are now live on NHS England's website at www.england.nhs.uk/commissioning/primary-care-comm/dental/dental-specialities/
These guides provide aspirational commissioning standard setting for the provision of specialist dental care across all healthcare settings. However, a note of caution, the commissioning based upon these guides will only be successful with local intelligent implementation and with sufficient workforce to deliver this level of care of specialist services.
I remain very concerned, with an inadequate existing workforce in many specialties, about those patients coming to harm whilst a suitable fit-for-purpose workforce to deliver this standard of care is identified and trained.
1. London
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Renton, T. Guidelines: Insufficiency concern. Br Dent J 220, 2 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.2016.3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.2016.3