Dentists are in short supply

The fourth annual Rural Dental Conference at Gregynog near Newtown is called 'Ain't what you say.'

It will focus on communication between dentists and health officials, although informal discussions will be held on issues of funding and shortages.

More than 100 delegates from rural parts of Wales and the English Midlands will take part.

It comes as the British Dental Association in Wales warns that changes in funding next year will add to problems with the service.

"The dental service is clearly falling apart and with changes to the way the service is funded, dentists face an uncertain future," said Stuart Geddes, national director of the British Dental Association,

People queue to register with a new dentist in Machynlleth last month

Currently, dentists are paid a small amount per patient per month and then they charge for treatment.

However, from next year they will be paid according to 2003's patient figures.

"There will be no incentive for dentists to do extra work because they won't be paid for it," said Mr Geddes.

A lack of dentists has caused problems throughout Wales. In Carmarthen last July, hundreds queued for hours to register for a new surgery, while last month people in Machynlleth queued to register for a new practice too.

The BDA said the costs associated with a rural practice were more than those in towns and cities.

Mr Geddes said: "In rural areas it's difficult to recruit staff such as therapists and hygienists and to make a surgery in the countryside viable it needs to have at least 2,500 to 3,000 patients.

"They have to be concentrated too, because issues relating to transport crop up and people then miss appointments and that costs surgeries."

According to Assembly Government figures, over the last two years eight new practices have opened in Wales including in Machynlleth and Crickhowell and in the six months to March 2004, the number of people registered with an NHS dentist in Wales increased by almost 5,000.

A spokeswoman for the Welsh Assembly Government said reform was underway.