I MUST to write in response to letters from concerned patients after our decision to move into private practice (May 13).

It has not been an easy decision for us to make but we are doing so to continue being able to provide our patients with the highest level of dental care.

Under the NHS we are now having to see more and more patients, waiting times at the practice and for appointments are long and so the time in the chair is being reduced.

This combination does not fit well with providing high-quality preventive dental care, which we wish to provide for patients.

Although they have a good underlying ethos, the proposed changes to the NHS are based on practices seeing more patients. Funding is available to practices who take on more patients and that is totally unfeasible for us.

By moving into the private sector and offering Denplan, we will be better placed to dedicate more time to all patients and provide the excellent level of care they have come to trust and expect.

In response to equipping the practice, as an independent business, we have always been solely accountable for providing the practice premises and all the surgery equipment.

By enrolling patients on to Denplan Care, a dental payment plan, patients will be able to budget for their dental treatment and, with a single monthly fee, all their treatment is covered.

All our patients will be receiving a letter about the changes at the end of the month and we ask anyone who has any questions to call and speak to us.

Dr Keith Lofthouse,

Principal dentist,

Wigginton Dental Practice,

Mill Lane,

Wigginton, York.

...NATIONAL Health Service Dentists? Rarer than hen's teeth.

Gillian Ring,

Lindley Street,

Acomb Road, York.

Updated: 08:31 Saturday, May 15, 2004