§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now make non-mercury-amalgam dental fillings available to National Health Service patients for fillings in any type of tooth.
373W
§ Mr. HayhoeDental filling materials other than amalgam, including gold, porcelain, silicate, glass ionomer and silico-phosphate cements, together with resin based composite materials are already available for the restoration of teeth within the general dental service of the National Health Service. Most of these materials are either unsuitable or are insufficiently tested for normal use in restoring cavities of all types in all teeth; their use for certain fillings therefore in exceptional circumstances, where amalgam may in the clinical judgment of the dentist be inappropriate, requires the prior approval of the Dental Estimates Board.