The Department of Health (DH) is to investigate dentists who it believes are ‘gaming the system’ and recalling healthy patients for check ups to trigger extra payments.

In a statement last month, the DH said: ‘It is clear from new data available to PCTs that many patients are being seen every six months or so. This effectively prevents new patients from getting access to NHS dentistry. NICE guidance says that adults with healthy teeth do not need to go to their dentist as frequently as every six months if there is no clinical need. It is a contractual requirement for dentist to apply the NICE guidance.’

The Dental Health Services Research Unit at Dundee University is planning a four-year study examining the effectiveness of different recall intervals for check-ups.