The National Health Service (General Dental Services) and (Dental Charges) (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2003

Amendment of Schedule 1 to the 1992 Regulations

3.  In Schedule 1 to the 1992 Regulations (terms of service for dentists), for paragraph 17 (occasional treatment) substitute —

“17— (1) Whether or not a patient has entered into a continuing care arrangement or capitation arrangement with another dentist, a dentist who is not acting on behalf of that dentist may provide any of the items listed in sub-paragraph (2) as occasional treatment.

(2) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1) the listed items are —

(a) the assessment of, and giving of advice to, a patient,

(b) the issuing of a prescription,

(c) a radiographic examination and radiological report,

(d) the dressing of deciduous or permanent teeth and other palliative treatment,

(e) the repair and fixing of inlays, crowns and bridges,

(f) the extraction of deciduous or permanent teeth,

(g) the provision of post-operative care,

(h) the provision of sedation,

(i) the provision, replacement, repair or alteration of dentures or other dental appliances,

(j) urgent treatment for acute conditions of the gingivae or oral mucosa, including treatment for pericoronitits or for ulcers and herpetic lesions, and any necessary oral hygiene instruction in connection with such treatment,

(k) any treatment immediately necessary as a result of trauma,

(l) domiciliary visits and recalled attendance,

(m) conservative treatment of permanent or retained deciduous teeth, by way of fillings or root fillings, and

(n) in respect of patients under 18, conservative treatment of deciduous teeth.

(3) Where the dentist, due to any cause beyond his control, is unable to complete a course of occasional treatment which he has commenced, the dentist shall forthwith notify the Board in writing of the extent of the occasional treatment he has provided and the reason why he is unable to complete the remainder of the treatment.

(4) Subject to sub-paragraphs (5) and (6), where a dentist has provided conservative treatment by way of any filling or root filling in accordance with sub-paragraph 2(m), the dentist shall repair or replace the filling in question at no charge to the patient.

(5) A dentist shall not be under an obligation to repair or replace any filling under sub-paragraph 2(m) where —

(a) within 12 months of the date on which the filling was provided —

(i) a dentist has provided private treatment, or

(ii) another dentist has provided occasional treatment otherwise than of a temporary nature,

on the tooth in respect of which the filling was provided;

(b) the dentist advised the patient at the time of the filling and indicated on the patient record —

(i) that the filling was intended to be temporary in nature; or

(ii) that, in the dentist’s opinion, a different form of filling was more appropriate but, notwithstanding that advice, the patient insisted on the filling which was provided;

(c) in the opinion of the dentist, the condition of the tooth in respect of which the filling was provided is such that the filling cannot satisfactorily be repaired or replaced and different treatment is now required; or

(d) the repair of replacement is required as a result of trauma.

(6) The obligation to repair or replace any filling under sub-paragraph 2(m) shall cease 12 months after the date on which the filling was provided.”.