DENTAL campaigners reiterated calls for the NHS dentistry contract to be scrapped today following Lord Darzi’s damning report into the health service.

The cross-bench peer’s report called for “urgent action” on the current NHS dental contract if dentistry is to continue as a core service.

It said a contract must be developed “that balances activity and prevention, is attractive to dentists and rewards those dentists who practice in less served areas.

“There are enough dentists in England, just not enough dentists willing to do enough NHS work, which impacts provision for the poorest in society,” it said.

But Toothless in England insisted the current dental contract must be scrapped and for a wide range of experts to be involved in the development of a new strategy.

Mark Jones, founder of campaign group Toothless in England, called on the government to confer with dental experts in general, not just dentists, to find effective answers to the nation’s dental crisis.

“Together with Toothless in England, dental nurses, therapists and hygienists play a crucial role in assisting the government in developing a drastically new strategy for NHS dentistry,” he said.

“It is imperative that the current dental contract model be scrapped and replaced with one that is not just adequately financed, but designed to address the oral health needs of the people.”

The British Dental Association (BDA) welcomed calls in Lord Darzi’s independent review to fix the broken contract that is “fuelling the access and workforce crises in NHS dentistry.”

Shawn Charlwood, BDA general dental practice committee chair, said: “Past governments have attempted tweaks at the margins.

“Saving NHS dentistry means fixing a broken contract.”

A recent analysis by the professional body found that the unmet need for NHS dentistry in England now stands at 13 million, or over one in four of the adult population.