Written question asked by Elfyn Llwyd (Plaid Cymru) on Wednesday, 5 April 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 18 April 2000. It was answered by Lord Hutton of Furness (Labour) on Tuesday, 18 April 2000 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the relative cost of the use in dentistry of (a) mercury-based amalgams and (b) non-metal-based amalgams; and if he will make a statement. - Inc table.

Answer: Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the relative cost of the use in dentistry of (a) mercury-based amalgams and (b) non-metal-based amalgams; and if he will make a statement. [118403] Mr. Hutton: The table provides the number and cost of general dental services treatments using different restorative materials in England in 1998-99. Dental amalgam is more durable and easier to insert than the other materials. _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Treatment Number (Million) Cost (£ million) Amalgam fillings 8.3 91.6 Composite resin fillings 4.9 52.2 Glass ionomer fillings 1.9 20.0 Total 15.0 163.8 _________________________________________________________________________________________________.

Secondary information