§ Mr. BeardTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the rate of replacement of fillings and crowns in NHS dentistry in each of the last 10 years. [117853]
§ Mr. HuttonDuring 1998–99, 387,777 fillings and 81,891 crowns or approximately 2 per cent. of treatments for fillings and crowns in England and Wales were replaced under paragraph 7 of the Terms of Service for Dentists (Schedule 1 of the National Health Service (General Dental Services) Regulation 1992).
Comparable information is not available for earlier years.
The percentage does not include fillings or crowns which are replaced in later courses of treatment on which information is not available.
207W
§ Mr. BeardTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how time spent on advising patients on how to improve dental hygiene is reflected in dentists' remuneration. [117945]
§ Mr. HuttonTime spent on advising patients on how to improve dental hygiene and maintain oral health is remunerated in a number of ways through the fee scales laid down in Determination I of the Statement of Dental Remuneration. Dentists are paid as follows:
- monthly capitation payments for every registered patient under the age of 18 (item 41);
- monthly continuing care payments for every registered patient aged over 18 (item 45);
- fee for examination and report (item 1);
- intensive instruction in the prevention of dental disease (item 6); and,
- non-surgical treatment of periodontal disease (item 10).