The Community Dental Service (CDS) in Wales is facing huge challenges. With your help, we can build a service with a sustainable future for dentists providing care, and where patients can access high-quality dentistry easily and consistently.
We have already achieved so much through working together effectively
Disabled people need treatment that is delivered in a caring and appropriate manner, and CDS dentists have successfully reduced inequalities in access to dental care. Special care patients can present different challenges, and CDS dentists work hard to give them the same positive outcomes as patients without disabilities.
CDS teams have contributed to the fact that there are many fewer children who need general anaesthetic for dental treatment, and anxious children are often treated under conscious sedation instead. The Design to Smile prevention scheme for families and young children, and triaging referrals for children helped improve overall oral health.
During the pandemic, we organised and operated Urgent Dental Clinics (UDCs) in a short timeframe. In tumultuous times, CDS teams delivered care to the most vulnerable patients.
Now is the time to act
The CDS in Wales is vital. Young dentists are not joining the CDS in the numbers seen previously, and it is the same story for other members of the team, such as dental nurses and therapists. Morale has never been so low, and that is why we need to work together and formulate a shared plan of action. We will put protecting special care patients at the forefront of our vision and reject the CDS being used as a dumping ground for struggling General Dental Services.
What do you think the path should be for community dentistry?
Your views are invaluable to us as to how we can achieve this. Let us know what you think about your pay and career path, your health board, and patient waiting lists. This is your opportunity to tell us what you want us to do for you, and to share your ideas for improvement.
Fill in as much or as little as you like in our quick 10-minute survey on the CDS topics that interest you most.
The survey is open until Monday 16 September 2024, and we will read your responses as you send them in. We would really appreciate it if you shared the survey with your CDS colleagues as well. With your input we can make our vision of a robust and thriving CDS a reality for Wales.