Vulnerable people in Airedale are at risk of losing oral health care if more community dentists cannot be recruited to the area.

An acute shortage of community dentists, especially trained to treat patients with medical, physical, behavioural or learning difficulties, has already led to demand for services outstripping supply.

And a dwindling pool of community dental officers circulating between different trust jobs and a lack of NHS dentists has only served to exacerbate the problem.

Stella Robinson is the dental health service manager for Airedale NHS Trust's Community Dental Service, which provides a dental service for vulnerable people in the area who are unable to receive treatment at general dental practices.

She says that unless more dentists can be found, the situation in Airedale will continue to deteriorate.

She told members of the trust board: "The dental service can be divided into three main areas, the largest group is in general dental practice and the rest are divided between the hospital dental service and the salaried dental services.

"Remuneration between the different branches of dentistry is quite marked, with community dental officers earning between a half and two thirds of general practitioners.

"We have, in the past, had a history of staff remaining in employment for long periods of time, but many of our staff are female and we have lost a number of them when they have decided to have families. This last year we have struggled using locum dental officers to cover maternity leave, but we are now in the position whereby, in June, we will have in post one senior dental officer and one dental service manager. A recent advert for a dental officer brought no suitable replies."

Mrs Robinson added that a restructuring of roles was needed soon to halt the decline in numbers.

She added: "The Nuffield Report advocated the expanding of dental auxiliary roles and, while there has been a reluctance among dental professionals, I feel this is a way forward for the Community Dental Service."

Chief executive Bob Allen said: "We need to consider the attitude towards dental health with Bradford Health Authority."

Oral health advisory groups for North Yorkshire and Bradford health authorities are currently looking into ways of providing greater levels of care.

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