Dentists and Dentistry (Hansard, 30 June 1975)

§ Mr. Kilroy-Silk
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, if she has any intention of increasing dental charges.
277W

§ Mrs. Castle
I have no proposals to announce concerning dental charges to patients.

§ Mrs. Renée Short
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what were the total number of dentists working in the National Health Service, and the number

Available information for England is set out in the following Table:—

Year Dentists providing GDS (at 30th September) Cast Gold Crowns "Anterior" Crowns^* Full Dentures(Synthetic Resin)† "Anterior" Fillings in (Permanent Teeth)‡

1968 … 10,182 39,280 174,860 (265,960) 784,600 Not available

1970 … 10,426 42,350 220,230 (280,120) 672,400 5,723,471

1971 … 10,527 53,240 235,270 (310,060) 795,620 5,868,777

1972 … 10,750 56,340 244,130 (328,550) 603,830 5,775,344

1973 … 10,886 68,380 380,970 (494,590) 624,760 6,621,780

1974 … 11,023 65,310 494,060 (581,310) 610,520 6,858,590

^* Data on crowns are collected in terms of materials used not location of teeth. However to give an indication of the numbers of anterior crowns, the figures in this column are for treatments involving materials which, by reason of their appearance, are generally used only for anterior teeth. The total numbers of all types of crowns provided are shown in brackets.

† A small proportion of full dentures (less than 10 per cent. is metal-based). These are not included because available statistics do not differentiate between partial and full metal dentures.

‡ As with crowns data on location of fillings are not available. To give an indication of the numbers of anterior fillings, the figures in this column are for treatments involving materials which by reason of their appearance, are generally used only for anterior teeth. Because of a change in the basis of collecting statistics the figures for 1973 and 1974 are for numbers of fillings whereas those for earlier years are for numbers of teeth filled. As a result the figures for 1973 and 1974 are not directly comparable with those for earlier years but in general there are 10 per cent. more fillings than teeth filled.

Available information for England is set out in the following Table:—
Year	Dentists providing GDS (at 30th September)	Cast Gold Crowns	"Anterior" Crowns^*	Full Dentures(Synthetic Resin)†	"Anterior" Fillings in (Permanent Teeth)‡
1968	…	10,182	39,280	174,860 (265,960)	784,600	Not available
1970	…	10,426	42,350	220,230 (280,120)	672,400	5,723,471
1971	…	10,527	53,240	235,270 (310,060)	795,620	5,868,777
1972	…	10,750	56,340	244,130 (328,550)	603,830	5,775,344
1973	…	10,886	68,380	380,970 (494,590)	624,760	6,621,780
1974	…	11,023	65,310	494,060 (581,310)	610,520	6,858,590
^* Data on crowns are collected in terms of materials used not location of teeth. However to give an indication of the numbers of anterior crowns, the figures in this column are for treatments involving materials which, by reason of their appearance, are generally used only for anterior teeth. The total numbers of all types of crowns provided are shown in brackets.
† A small proportion of full dentures (less than 10 per cent. is metal-based). These are not included because available statistics do not differentiate between partial and full metal dentures.
‡ As with crowns data on location of fillings are not available. To give an indication of the numbers of anterior fillings, the figures in this column are for treatments involving materials which by reason of their appearance, are generally used only for anterior teeth. Because of a change in the basis of collecting statistics the figures for 1973 and 1974 are for numbers of fillings whereas those for earlier years are for numbers of teeth filled. As a result the figures for 1973 and 1974 are not directly comparable with those for earlier years but in general there are 10 per cent. more fillings than teeth filled.