Editor's Choice
Main Category: Dentistry
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 30 Sep 2011 - 4:00 PDT email to a friend   printer friendly   opinions  

Following media attention regarding a change in the way the provision of NHS orthodontic care for children in Scotland is determined, a reasonable debate concerning the financing of children's Dental care in the country is being requested by the British Dental Association (BDA). The change will see the eligibility of children in the Scotland for NHS orthodontic care determined by criteria called the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN).The move will bring Scotland in line with arrangements already in place in other areas of the UK.

Even though the BDA accepts that the way funding is allocated is a Government matter, they believe it is crucial that a sensible debate that acknowledges that resources are limited is carried out, and also that decisions need to be made regarding what taxpayer's money is spent on.

Dr Robert Kinloch, Chair of the BDA's Scottish Dental Practice Committee, explained:

"Scotland has an excellent scheme called Childsmile which is held up as an example of best practice across the UK. It was introduced in the Labour-Liberal Democrat Coalition Dental Action Plan in 2005 and its success is being built on by the current SNP administration.

Childsmile seeks to tackle oral health inequalities by targeting children with education, advice and interventions. Childsmile has the full support of the BDA and we are delighted to see the Scottish Government investing what we calculate to be approximately three million pounds in its further development. This will mean that, as of next week, it will benefit children across the whole of Scotland.

While orthodontic care is extremely important, and certainly must be funded for those with a genuine clinical need, paying for it for those who are not judged to need it according to formal criteria is a questionable use of finite financial resources. What is important is that the change that is being implemented is properly explained to patients by Government, so that both they and the Dental profession have a proper understanding of what parents can and can‚ expect the state to provide for their children."

Written by Grace Rattue
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