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. 2021 Sep 28;101(4):407–413. doi: 10.1177/00220345211044108

Figure 1.

Figure 1.

Rates of dental attendances over the period studied with key policy change dates labeled. (1) Introduction of capitation payments in NHS dentistry. GDPs were remunerated for the number of patients registered at their practices, resulting in an increase in patients registered as seeing a GDP. (2) Clawback of GDP fees due to overperformance from the changes in 1990. This led to a dispute between GDPs and the Department of Health initiating access issues for NHS dentistry. (3) Introduction of free dental check-ups to those <25 y and >60 y in Wales. (4) Introduction of a new NHS dental contract with loss of patient registration and capitation payments and introduction of a new payment model for NHS dentists, resulting in more dentists moving from the NHS to private dentistry. Change in provision of dental care in Wales, with responsibility for providing care moved to local health boards from individual practices. (5) Introduction of NHS Direct Wales, a free-to-use national telephone service for advice and access to nonemergency medical and dental services. GDP, general dental practitioner; NHS, National Health Service.