'A healthier Wales' – what can dentistry contribute?

Colette Bridgman is the Chief Dental Officer for Wales. She provides leadership in the development of policy and legislation relating to the dental profession, dental healthcare and oral health. Colette recently presented to senior dental representatives from across the UK at the GDC's Dental Professional Forum. Colette explains the key areas that she highlighted on the Welsh government's approach to transforming dentistry in Wales.
I was recently invited to a meeting of the GDC's Dental Professional Forum to provide an overview of the Oral Health and Dental Service's response to 'A Healthier Wales', Welsh Government's long-term plan to create a whole system approach to health and social care. The meeting proved a useful opportunity to engage with senior representatives from a wide range of dental professional bodies and stakeholder groups from across the UK and discuss the approach that we are taking to transform dentistry in Wales. One of the key aspects that I highlighted was the appetite for change that exists in Wales, which is fuelled by engaged clinicians, political support and emerging local leaders, who are enabling us to set bold goals to transform the system.
- the public and professionals are equal partners
- we care for those with the greatest need first
- we do what is needed and do no harm, and
- we reduce inappropriate variation based on evidence.
What to read next…


Elizabeth Gonzalez Malaga
12 May 2022


Lord Toby Harris
04 May 2022


Lord Toby Harris
06 April 2022


Jyoti Sumel and Monica Matanda
23 March 2022

A view from the GDC's Chair: Good discussions and progress on international registration

Lord Toby Harris
02 March 2022


John Cullinane
24 February 2022


Jyoti Sumel and Monica Matanda
23 February 2022


Stefan Czerniawski
11 February 2022


Lord Toby Harris
02 February 2022


Daniel Knight
18 January 2022


Lord Toby Harris
05 January 2022


Kristen Bottrell
20 December 2021

The ORE: a flawed system made worse by the pandemic with further challenges ahead

Stefan Czerniawski
17 December 2021


Lord Toby Harris
01 December 2021


Caroline Lappin
30 November 2021


Stefan Czerniawski
25 November 2021


Gurvinder Soomal
22 October 2021


Black History Month
20 October 2021


Elizabeth Gonzalez Malaga
08 October 2021


John Cullinane
16 September 2021


Gurvinder Soomal
06 September 2021


Manjula Das
02 September 2021


Lisa Marie Williams
12 August 2021


Gordon Matheson CBE
04 August 2021

Helping patients to understand why face masks and social distancing is still in place at the dentist

John Cullinane
19 July 2021


Marie-Jeanne Royer
07 July 2021


Osama Ammar
10 June 2021