§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will review his policy regarding payments to dentists for conducting checks on patients who have no natural teeth, in the light of the importance of such examinations to the health of such 527W patients; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MoyleNo. I do not consider that a review is necessary. Where treatment is provided to an edentulous patient, the dentist is entitled to claim an examination fee unless the treatment is limited to the repair of a denture.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give an undertaking not to change the interval for dental check-ups, at present every six months for adults and four months for children; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MoyleThe statement of dental remuneration for practitioners in the NHS general dental services provides that the fee for "clinical examination, advice and report" is not payable where the dentist has been paid or is entitled to be paid for treatment of the patient under this item carried out at any time during the preceding five calendar months for patients over 21 and four months for those under 21. However, this is not a mandatory interval for dental check-ups, and the time which elapses between courses of treatment does not depend on this provision.
We have no plans at present to review these arrangements.