A British panel said dentists are pulling teeth instead of doing crowns and bridges because of changes in government funding.

The Commons Health Select Committee said National Health Service reforms intended to increase preventative treatments have resulted instead in a payment system that has dentists avoiding time-consuming treatments, the Times of London said. Dentists who previously were paid a fee for each item of treatment are now paid an annual salary for carrying out an agreed number of units of dental activity.

The British Dental Association said the report highlights the failure of a farcical contract that has alienated the profession and caused uncertainty to patients.

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