HEALTH experts and a local MP are backing new government plans which will make dental check-ups yearly.

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence recommendations to extend the period between examinations will ease the anxiety suffered by millions of patients and make appointments more readily available.

And MP for Hyndburn, Greg Pope, believes that the guidelines will provide the initial step in attracting dentists back into the NHS.

The guidelines will also advise that those with healthy teeth only need to attend the dentist's surgery every two years.

They will replace the current practice of NHS dentists recalling patients every six months regardless of the condition of their teeth.

Doctor Eric Rooney, consultant in dental public health for Lancashire Health Authority, said: "The current six month check-up routine stems from a time when most of the population had severe dental decay and gum disease but that is now not the case.

"This will free up dentist's time for the benefit of those patients who have problems and need more frequent or urgent appointments."

Greg Pope said: "When we look at why dentists in East Lancashire are leaving the NHS they say it is because it is too inflexible and they get bogged down in routine check-ups which are unnecessary."