Catalogue description Records of the Dental Estimates Board

The detailed arrangements for the provision of dental treatment under the National Health Service were laid down in the National Health Service (General Dental Services) Regulations 1948 (S1 1948, 505). These contained the terms of service of dentists who registered as practitioners in the National Health Service and established the Dental Estimates Board. The Board, consisting of seven dental practitioners, one of whom was the chairman W L Boness, and two lay members, first met at its offices in Eastbourne in May 1948.

The regulations specified those types of treatment which could be carried out as necessary, including emergency treatment, and those for which the prior approval of the board was required. These last included the extraction of teeth, extensive and prolonged treatment of gums and some crowns. An estimate of the cost of such treatment was submitted to the board for approval and authorisation of the payment of fees was requested once the course of treatment was completed, except in the case of orthodontic treatment taking longer than three years for which interim payments were allowed.

When patients requested more expensive treatment than was clinically necessary this could be approved by the board provided the patient undertook to pay the extra costs. The range of types of treatment requiring estimates was gradually reduced. By 1984 dentists could provide all treatment and dentures needed for 'dental fitness' except expensive items such as metal dentures, bridges and gold fillings.

In addition to its work on estimates the board was responsible for maintaining copies of the lists of dental practitioners registered to work under the service, advising local executive councils of the gross amounts of fees due each month to dentists on their dental lists, referring to executive councils the cases of dentists who appeared to have contravened the terms of service, and compiling statistics of services provided and the types of treatment used. It also had the authority to refer patients to a dental officer of the Ministry of Health before making a decision about an estimate.

Appeals against the board's decisions could be addressed by patients or dentists to the minister who would appoint two practising dentists to hear them. The Dental Estimates Board was re-named the Dental Practice Board in 1989. Since 1 April 1991 there has been a minor alteration in the composition of the board, but its status remains unchanged.