I WAS interested to read your article about the trend towards the privatisation of York's dentistry, in particular Wigginton Dental Practice (May 11).

During a recent check-up there I was told of the "take it or leave" introduction of the Denplan insurance policy.

I was very disappointed at the dentist's explanation of the benefits to the patient.

His opening gambit was that it would improve the patient's healthcare by allowing more time in consultations.

This may be true for patients who can afford Denplan but it will not be the case for the less affluent who, because of the absence of any other York practice being prepared to take on new NHS patients, will be relegated to NHS drop-in centres.

Although the dentist did not elaborate he did acknowledge that the drop-in centres are only likely to cater for those with immediate problems (fillings, extractions etc.) and not provide any preventative treatment, which is a deterioration, rather than an improvement, in healthcare.

Then the dentist adopted a different approach by trying to demonstrate the level of under-funding, stating that the NHS funding plus my contribution towards a check-up would not buy the same amount of time with a solicitor.

I was not aware that the healthcare sector used solicitors as a benchmark for funding or salaries but I hope the nursing profession has taken note for their next round of pay negotiations.

If the NHS funding is really so bad I'm amazed that the British Dental Association has not been able to assert more pressure on the Government, especially in an election year when any half-decent media campaign is likely to embarrass New Labour into action.

J Benton,

Village Garth,

Wigginton,

York.

...THE effective closure of two more NHS dental practices in York is a disgrace, as your comment rightly stated. I know two NHS dentists and they both do very nicely, thank you.

Nobody can deny that the NHS's contracts system for dentists is poorly designed, but this is just pure greed by the dentists concerned. They ought to be ashamed of themselves.

Who enabled these practices to become equipped and paid for the equipment they use? Would that be us, the taxpayers, by any chance?

If these were, for example, Ford dealerships giving up their franchise, the motor giant's people would come in and remove anything they had provided, leaving the business to fend for itself.

I hope that the primary care trust sends in their auditors to establish just what "we" own, and demand reimbursement accordingly.

In the longer term, we should lobby the Government and work with our primary care trust to help them achieve their stated aims of providing us with our entitlement, NHS dental care.

Andy Scaife,

Suffolk House,

Lowther Terrace,

York.

Updated: 10:18 Thursday, May 13, 2004