§ Baroness Howe of Idlicoteasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are considering the recognition of implantology for use within the National Health Service; and
[HL3629]
143WAHow near the General Dental Council is to registering implantology as a recognised dental technique; and [HL3630]
How many United Kingdom dentists carry out implantology techniques; and how many recommend their patients to specialists in this field; and
[HL3631]
How many patients have had dental implants in the United Kingdom; and how this compares with comparable figures for (a) the United States; and (b) leading European Union member states; and
[HL3632]
What is the average charge for each dental implant in the United Kingdom. [HL3633]
§ Lord Warner:Dental implants are not within the scope of the General Dental Services, but are available under the National Health Service in the Hospital Dental Service, either as an in-patient or outpatient procedure. All general dental practitioners can refer a patient to a hospital consultant where they judge it to be clinically necessary.
The General Dental Council's ethical guidance to registrants states that dentists should practise within the limits of their knowledge, skills and experience. We are aware that some dentists offer implants to private patients, but information is not held by the Department of Health on cost, nor is information held centrally on the number of implants fitted in the United Kingdom or in overseas countries.