§ Mr. RathboneTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how he is encouraging better dental care and dental hygiene among children in advance of completion of the consultation period on the health strategy Green Paper.
§ Mr. DorrellUnder the new contract general dental practitioners are paid on a capitation basis for their child64W patients. This is designed to encourage dentists to place emphasis on preventative measures including advice on oral hygiene and a healthy diet.
The redesigned role of the community dental service is also intended to help improve dental health education and preventive measures.
More than £1 million has already been spent in support of oral health education projects since the publication of the White Paper "Promoting Better Health", and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 9 May that up to £750,000 would be available from the Department to support oral health education projects this year.
In addition, funding is provided to the health education authority which has a long-established programme of providing education to patients and children on matters relating to nutrition and dental health.