LABOUR will introduce a dentistry rescue plan if they come into power at the next general election, the party promised today.

The party pledged to fund dental practices to provide 700,000 more urgent appointments, as well as incentives for dentists to work in areas with the greatest need for their services.

It would also introduce supervised brushing in schools for three to five-year-olds, particularly in areas with high levels of childhood tooth decay.

Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said: “The slow death of dentistry is the Ghost of Christmas Future for the NHS, if the Conservatives are given a fifth term: those who can afford it going private and those who can’t left with a poor service for poor people.”

The blueprint will cost £111 million and would be funded by abolishing the non-dom tax status, Labour said.

Nuffield Trust chief executive Thea Stein said the measures in the plan “all make good sense,” but added that “piecemeal measures alone are unlikely to stem the decline we are seeing in NHS dentistry.”

Mark Jones of Toothless in England said the campaign group will be meeting with Labour next month to discuss issues with communities accessing dental care.

He told the Star: “Naturally, we support any ideas aimed at enhancing oral health outcomes for both adults and children.  

“However, any dentistry rescue plan that is put into action… must include a quick fix that guarantees patients have access to NHS dentistry, especially emergency dental care.”

In a separate statement, Mr Streeting said that there will be a “serious reduction” in the number of people on NHS waiting lists after five years of a Labour government.

The party pledged to “ramp up” weekend hospital appointments to cut the backlog.