Dentists have called on the Government to address the “crisis” in child dental health after new figures revealed that thousands of children are having decayed teeth removed in local dental practices.Dentists have called on the Government to address the “crisis” in child dental health after new figures revealed that thousands of children are having decayed teeth removed in local dental practices.In 2014/15 over 179,218 teeth were removed in children aged nine and under in dental practices across England, the British Dental Association (BDA) said.
The Government has disputed the figures and said the number of extractions is falling.The extractions in local dental practices are on top of the thousands of young children who have had decayed teeth removed in England’s hospitals.Dentists attending the Local Dental Committees’ annual conference in Manchester on Thursday and Friday will call on the government to tackle the problem.
Henrik Overgaard-Nielsen, chairman of the BDA’s general dental practice committee, said: “We already know that tooth decay is the number one reason why children are admitted to hospital, costing the NHS around £35 million a year.”However, a less well-known factor until the BDA’s disclosure today is that the vast majority of rotten teeth are removed in dental practices around the country.
“Why are we carrying out extractions, when we should be saving pain and money by aiming to keep healthy teeth in healthy mouths?”Sara Hurley, chief dental officer, England said: “The sad but completely avoidable reality is that our children and young people now drink more sugary soft drinks than anywhere else in Europe, so we are creating a legacy of obesity and oral health problems.
“So to get serious about tackling tooth loss means getting serious about prevention. Parents and carers need to proactively monitor and reduce the sugar in their children’s diet and ensure regular tooth brushing with a fluoride toothpaste. More
Children learn about looking after their teeth at Stretch-n-Grow classes.
