Three new agreements between the provincial government and the NL Dental Association have been signed that will ensure funding for improved access to the province’s dental programs.

They include the Children’s Dental Health Plan, the Adult Dental Program and the Surgical Dental Program.

The agreements include a new rural retention bonus to help retain ten dentists already working under a return-in-service arrangement.

The Rural Dental Bursary Program is being increased by $250,000 to allow another five dentists to be added to the program each year over three years.

The surgical extraction of teeth, including wisdom teeth will also be covered under the Adult Dental Program if performed by a general dentist.