Paul Critchley, MD of Smile:Together

The Association of Dental Groups (ADG) is a leading support system for corporate dentistry providers and dental groups which is dedicated to ensuring the delivery of quality outcomes for patients and working with the profession to improve patient care.

As well as supporting the Government's aims to improve high quality access to dental care, the ADG ensures that members meet the highest of standards in order to deliver exceptional patient care and treatment. The ADG says it takes pride in working with corporate providers and dentistry groups and will continue to work hard to meet its aims and objectives.

Paul Critchley, Managing Director of Smile:Together said of his decision to join the ADG: 'We joined the ADG for two reasons. The first was that we wanted to share and better understand some of the issues we face by working with peers in similar business structures to ourselves.

'Two heads are always better than one when seeking solutions to industry-wide challenges that affect our patients and the ADG provides a source of shared knowledge.

'The second reason was that we wanted to join an organisation that had an influential voice on these matters. In a care profession like dentistry where political or operational decisions are being made about your sector, it's useful to be able to contribute and we now have a far greater influence than we would as a stand-alone group in a rural part of the country.'

The ADG says it is dedicated to improving dental access for patients across the country and cites the example of the Essex team from ADG member Community Dental Services (CDS) CIC.

CDS recently partnered with Southend Clinical Commissioning Group to produce a series of flash cards to be used by local dentists to improve treatment explanations to patients. Designed to help people with a reduced understanding and alleviate anxiety, it is hoped that the resource will be extended across Essex and Thurrock Local Authority.

Lorraine Mattis, Operations Director for CDS in Essex, said: 'It is CDS' mission to provide oral health in evermore communities so it is important for us to work with partners to do whatever we can to provide oral health advice and support people with additional needs to visit the dentist. Providing information that is easier to understand is a very important part of reducing anxiety.'

More information about the ADG is available at www.dentalgroups.co.uk.