Dentists have an amazing ability to understand what their patients are saying even when they speak with their mouth full of medical instruments.

But now, health bosses are asking residents to talk to them about their experiences of NHS dentistry in the borough.

Barnet Primary Care Trust (PCT) wants to know whether people have had any difficulties getting to see an NHS dentist or whether people who previously received treatment have now stopped.

The PCT plans to use this feedback to help improve NHS services and understand why some people are not using NHS dentists.

To give your views, write to FREEPOST RLYZ - AGCK - RUXC, NHS Dentistry, Barnet Primary Care Trust, Edgware HA8 0BR, email nhsdentistry@barnet-pct.nhs.uk or call 020 8349 7577.

You are asked to leave your name, address and contact details for a member of staff to respond to you, but to leave an anonymous comment, just leave the first three digits of your postcode.

All information given will be held in strict confidence within the PCT and only used for evaluation purposes.

Alison Blair, primary care director and deputy chief executive of Barnet PCT, said: "Obtaining feedback from patients and taking into account their views is vital for bringing about improvements to the quality of care.

"We hope that Barnet residents will help us by sending their comments. Their views are crucial in helping us to find out how we are doing and how we can improve."