New figures from the U.K. National Health Service (NHS) indicate that the number of complex dental treatments being performed in the country is on the decline, according to a news story from the Press Association.
While the overall number of treatments has risen by more than a million in the last year, those for procedures such as bridges and root canals have been dropping, the news service reported.
Comparing numbers between 2008/2009 and 2003/2004, the NHS Information Centre data showed a 45.5% decrease for treatments where a bridge was fitted and a 39.4% decrease in the number of courses of treatment that included a root canal.
"Unfortunately, the government's disastrous contract has led to a fall in the number of complex treatments routinely provided by dentists," said Shadow Health Minister Mike Penning in the story. "This represents a failure for the profession, for patients, and for the wider NHS. Labour must ensure that there are proper incentives in place to provide appropriate treatment and preventative advice."
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