Trends and costs of high concentration fluoride toothpaste prescribing in Scotland.
Within Scotland there has been a significant increase in the prescription of 2,800 ppm and 5,000 ppm fluoride toothpaste. The objective of this paper was to analyse the trends in high concentration fluoride toothpaste (HCFT) in the five Scottish South East and Tayside (SEAT) health boards and consider the options for future national management of this prescribing. A retrospective analysis of routine prescribing data for the years 2006-2012 was carried out in primary care dental practices in Scotland. The cost of HCFT prescribing in the five Scottish health boards has increased from £15,243 (4,147 items) in 2006/07 to £206,529 (24,113 items), in 2011/12. Out of 2,430 dental list numbers, 100 list numbers (4.1%) accounted for 70% of the total prescribing costs (£144,367). The public dental service employs 153 (6%) of dentists working in Scotland, who in turn prescribe 11.6% HCFT. There is a need to ensure that the prescription of HCFT is both encouraged as best practice care but also managed appropriately to ensure that its delivery is targeted at those who are most in need.
Acting Consultant in Dental Public Health with Public Health England, Kent, Surrey and Sussex.
B G
BG
Duane
NHS Education for Scotland, Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme, Dundee Dental Education Centre, Small's Wynd, Dundee, DD1 4HN.
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D
Richards
NHS Forth Valley, Carseview House, Castle Business Park, Stirling, FK9 4SW.
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L
Young
NHS Fife Public Health, Cameron Hospital, Windygates, Fife, KY8 5RR.
B
B
Archibald
D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005459:Fluorides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D012606:Scotland; D014100:Toothpastes
D014100:Toothpastes; D005459:Fluorides