HL Deb 14 September 2001 vol 627 c10WA
Lord Lester of Herne Hill

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What measures the National Health Service will introduce to tackle the problem revealed by the Adult Dental Health Survey (1998) that some 42 per cent of adults over the age of 21 have a loss of about one-third of root length as a result of periodontal disease; and [HL466]

How they intend to respond to the Adult Dental Health Survey (1998) which highlights the widespread incidence of periodontal disease among the adult population; and whether they will invest in periodontal disease care and treatment sufficiently to ensure high quality care and treatment for people suffering from periodontal disease across the United Kingdom. [HL467]

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

As well as rewarding dentists for giving preventive care and advice to National Health Service patients, the general dental services contract already provides for both surgical and non-surgical periodontal treatment. The Government are committed to improving access to NHS dentistry. By September anyone requiring dental treatment will be able to find an NHS dentist by calling NHS Direct. We will monitor the effect of improved access to NHS dentistry on periodontal disease.