The document outlines 5 priorities for improving oral health in Wales for the next government. It calls for expanding the "Designed to Smile" prevention program for children under 3, making dental charges more affordable, ensuring health boards fully fund primary dental care, progressing proportionate dental regulation, and implementing prevention-focused workforce planning.

1. Improving oral health for all
Priorities for the next Welsh Government and Assembly

2. Invest more in children’s oral health
In areas of deprivation the innovative prevention
programme “Designed to Smile” should be made
compulsory and extended to nurseries for children
under 3 years of age - funded by the sugar levy.
Make dental charges a ordable
BDA Wales welcomes the freeze on NHS patient
charges and calls for further scal measures to help
the 388,000 who cannot a ord to visit their dentist.
Advance the Health Boards
The BDA supports the OECD’s nding that the Welsh
government needs more concrete levers for delivery -
Health Boards must spend their full funds for primary
dental care.
5 pledges to deliver better oral health in Wales
Progress dental regulation
Regulation of dentists must be proportionate and
appropriate for patient safety. BDA Wales calls on the
Welsh Assembly to ensure regulations are progressive.
Plan for the future
BDA Wales calls for a truly prevention based contract,
alongside evidence-based workforce planning with
incentives to encourage the best dentists to train and
work in Wales.
The BDA manifesto for the 2016 Welsh Elections is available to download
www.bda.org/wales2016