'A healthier Wales' – what can dentistry contribute?

​Colette Bridgman is t​he 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.