Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the level of access to NHS dentistry on diagnosis rates of routine mouth cancers.

No specific assessment has been made of the potential impact of the level of access to National Health Service dentistry on the diagnosis rates of routine mouth cancers. Dentists and other dental professionals, including hygienists, routinely check the soft tissues of a patient’s mouth for signs of cancer during dental visits, and as part of the check-up will make an assessment and record of an individual’s oral cancer risk.

Dentists will prioritise patients at a higher risk of oral cancer for more frequent recall and review, in line with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guidance. Members of the public who are worried about their oral health in relation to cancer should seek advice from their dentist or general practitioner. Patients with symptoms of concern should be assessed and offered an urgent dental appointment based upon clinical need, in line with advice from NHS England.