§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 22 May 2003,Official Report, column 966–67W, on dentistry, what research he has commissioned on the long term effects of people being unable to access non-urgent oral health services; and if he will make a statement. [116914]
§ Mr. LammyNo specific research has been commissioned on the long-term effects of people being unable to access non-urgent oral health services.
The Health Technology Assessment Programme has recently published a systematic review and economic evaluation of the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of routine dental checks. It concluded that more work needed to be done on this area. A copy of this has been placed in the Library.
938WThe National Institute for Clinical Excellence has been asked to prepare guidance for the national health service in England and Wales on the clinical and cost effectiveness of the six month recall period for individual patients at an interval based on the risk from oral disease.