Cost of child extractions is over £30 million
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- Published: Thursday, 02 October 2014 07:19
- Written by News Editor
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In reply to a question by dentist peer Baroness Gardner of Parkes, health minister Earl Howe revealed the cost to be £3.1 million for minor extractions and £27.4 million for multiple teeth – a total of £30.5 million. The data covers all tooth extractions in hospital, and does not distinguish between deciduous or adult teeth.
The minister added: “Tooth extractions in children often involve general anaesthesia. Extractions involving general anaesthesia were restricted to the hospital setting following the recommendations of the 2000 report ‘A conscious decision’ that patients should have access to high quality critical care facilities when general anaesthesia is given. There are currently no plans to change this. Many extractions are carried out on a day case basis; whether the extraction is carried out as a day case or requires an overnight admission is a matter for the clinicians involved. 70% of five year olds now have no dental decay but we recognise that significant inequalities remain. Wider work is under way through dental contract reform and other prevention focussed initiatives to improve oral health.”
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