§ 34. Miss Lestorasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many schoolchildren are awaiting dentures at the present time; and if he will make a statement on the condition of children's teeth.
§ Mr. AlisonI regret that the information is not available. In England in 1972, 17,017 courses of treatment involving the 59W supply of dentures were provided by general dental practitioners for children of school age, and 5,972 children were supplied with dentures for the first time under the school dental service. The majority were partial dentures. My right hon. Friend is awaiting the results of a national survey of the dental health of children of school age, the fieldwork for which was undertaken earlier this year.