<http://schema.org/articleBody>
" The UK&amp;#039;s dentistry market needs to be reformed to ensure patients understand what they are entitled to on the NHS and can access the services they need, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has said. Its latest study found that hundreds of thousands of patients may be getting the wrong information about their entitlement to dental treatments on the NHS. As a result, many patients may be paying more than necessary to have procedures done privately. Furthermore, some patients are unable to see a hygienist or dental therapist without a referral from a dentist - something the OFT believes is reducing patient choice and harming competition. OFT chief executive John Fingleton said: &amp;#039;Our study has raised significant concerns about the UK dentistry market which need to be tackled quickly in the interest of patients.&amp;#039; The regulator has called for major changes, including the provision of timely, clear and accurate information to patients and direct access to dental care professionals. It also says that the NHS dental contract should be redesigned and the complaints process simplified to make it easier for patients and dentists to resolve problems. Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, said that some of the OFT&amp;#039;s findings were &amp;#039;flawed and out of date&amp;#039;. He commented: &amp;#039;This report should not be taken as a cure-all for the future of dentistry in the UK and if taken in isolation it does not deliver a satisfactory solution for the patients or the dental health profession. &amp;#039;The findings of the OFT report need to be included and reviewed as a part of the education, research and change which needs to happen to deliver the best quality dental care.&amp;#039; "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/healthy-living/news/a22485/oft-calls-for-dentistry-reform/>