DENTISTS are getting their teeth into a recruitment drive to persuade schoolchildren to follow in their footsteps.

The campaign is the latest move to tempt young people into the dental profession.

A shortage of dental practitioners across East Lancashire is causing widespread problems for patients trying to register with a dentist.

Dr Gary Whittle, East Lancashire's consultant in dental public health, said getting children to consider dentistry as a career was vital.

He said many East Lancashire dentists were more than willing to talk to school pupils during careers nights.

Dr Whittle said: "I don't know why people are reluctant to come and work in East Lancashire. "For some reason East Lancashire seems to have a bad reputation, which is completely misplaced. There is wonderful countryside and it is a very nice place to live

"There is a shortage of dentists at the moment which is a major problem, particularly in the Burnley area.

"People from Burnley are registering with dentists in Nelson and Colne and there is then a knock-on effect on people living in the Pendle area.

"The idea is to try and get youngsters in East Lancashire to consider dentistry as a career. After their training they may come back to work in this area.

"Research carried out in Manchester has showed that newly-qualified dentists tend to work in the immediate area where they have completed their training

"But later in their career they tend to return and work in the area where they were brought up."

Several East Lancashire dental practices have lodged bids for Government cash to expand and develop their premises.

Dr Whittle said the result of the bids, which could improve the dental service, was imminent.

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