Explanatory note

These Regulations amend the National Health Service (General Dental Services) Regulations 1992 ( “the principal Regulations”) which provide for the arrangements under which general dental services are provided under Part II of the National Health Service Act 1977.

Schedule 1 to the principal Regulations is amended to remove an examination from the items of treatment which may be provided as occasional treatment (regulation 3(1)). A new transitional provision is substituted in the principal Regulations in consequence of the removal of this item, and so as to postpone, from 1st July 1992 to 8th July 1992, the inclusion of certain forms of palliative treatment among items of occasional treatment (regulation 2).

Schedule 4 to the principal Regulations is amended to reduce (from £600 to £200) the amount specified as the maximum cost or likely cost of care and treatment which a dentist may undertake without seeking the prior approval of the Dental Practice Board (regulation 3(2)(a)), and to provide that the cost of the extraction of any tooth for orthodontic purposes is not to be included in the cost of care and treatment for the purposes of prior approval (regulation 3(2)(b)).