CALLS have been made for increased provision of dental services in Bury to improve overall health.

Bury Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) said its committee wants to increase access to dentistry among children especially.

Their calls for a better offering of NHS dentists come after visiting speaker Ben Squires, who is Head of Primary Care Operation at NHS England, spoke at a committee meeting earlier today.

David McCann, Lay Member for patient and public involvement and Patient Cabinet Chair, said: "It was a very successful meeting.

"Mr Squires said it is very difficult to set out how well Bury dentists are providing because the only data NHS England is able to capture at the moment is that from NHS bodies rather than private dental care services.

"At the moment, the number of residents attending their dentist for a regular check-up is fairly static. I think that would improve if there was a better offering of NHS dentists within the authority.

"I think we need to increase the supply that is there. That would give us a better output."

A total of 58 per cent of Bury patients access an NHS dentist who, within a two-year period attend a GP for check ups.

There are eight secondary providers, four community providers and other private dental care providers across the borough.

Around £220million is spent on dental services in Bury, of which £40million is private funding.

Mr McCann added: "I think there have been tremendous improvements in relation to dentistry but oral health, especially among children, is a key indicator in relation to health generally.

"The committee was very keen to push for continued improvement in dentistry as a whole but we need to make sure children, especially, have access."