HC Deb 21 February 1977 vol 926 cc458-9W
Mr. Patrick Jenkin

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he proposes to act on the recommendation in the Interim Report of the Working Party on the Dental Services on preventive dentistry that arrangements should be made for fluoride tablets to be taken regularly by pre-school and school children.

Mr. Ennals

No, since experience has shown that the use of fluoride tablets is not a satisfactory community health measure, particularly since the necessary regularity of administration throughout the years of tooth formation is rarely achieved. I therefore shall continue to encourage the general fluoridation of water supplies, which was the method preferred by the working party and is far more effective in protecting the whole community against dental caries.

Mr. Patrick Jenkin

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he has taken in response to the recommendations on preventive dentistry submitted by the Working Party on the Dental Services in November 1973.

Mr. Ennals

I have sought to promote the fluoridation of water supplies, which the working party described as the best means of providing an adequate level of flouride, in order to reduce substantially the incidence of dental caries and so improve the standard of dental health.

Mr. Patrick Jenkin

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his policy on preventive dentistry in the National Health Service.

Mr. Ennals

My policy is set out generally in the consultative document "Prevention and Health: Everybody's Business", published in March 1976, which discussed preventive dental health measures and recognised fluoridation of water supplies as the best means of reducing dental decay in the community. We are also considering the recommendations on preventive dentistry made by the Committee on the Child Health Services, under Professor Court, and are awaiting the report or the inquiry into preventive medicine—which has included preventive dentistry—by the Social Services and Employment Sub-Committee of the Expenditure Committee of this House.