§ Mrs. Clwydasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why fluoride treatments and fissure sealing are provided under the community dental service and not under the general dental services of the National Health Service.
§ Mr. HayhoeThe cost-effective use of of fissure sealants in the general dental service is currently under consideration by a joint working party of the British Dental Association and our Department. It has not yet proved possible to reach agreement with the British Dental Association on arrangements for including topical fluoride for special needs groups of children in the general dental service scale of fees.
§ Mrs. Clwydasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will estimate the cost of providing fissure sealing of permanent teeth within the general dental services of the National Health Service;
(2) if he will estimate the cost of providing fluoride treatments for all children in low fluoride areas within the general dental services of the National Health Service.
§ Mr. HayhoeIt is not possible to estimate the cost of providing these treatments under the general dental service until the arrangements for including them in the fee scale have been agreed with the British Dental Association.