For the proposals set out below, the Council considers that basic preventive and treatment services should include diagnostic, preventive and routine services, but exclude ‘elective’ services such as crowns and implants. This approach allows for a focus on oral health prevention and early intervention. These account for approximately 90 per cent of services, but only two–thirds to three–quarters of the total costs. For more detail refer to Appendix K.
However, some patients may require more complex high–end dental care which is not categorised as diagnostic, preventive or routine. Patients would be given access to clinically necessary complex care items in exceptional circumstances.