A Third of Bolton Children Miss Out on Regular Dental Checks
New figures have revealed that a third of children in Bolton miss out on regular dental checks. New statistics from the Health and Social Care Information Centre show that almost 30 percent of children had not visited a dentist in the 12 month period leading up to March 31st 2015.
Although figures show improvements in rates of decay among children in the area, Bolton still ranks above the national average and there is a long way to go to improve children’s oral health and bring Bolton in line with other parts of the country. Jean Holgate, manager of the oral health team working in Bolton, said that the efforts are clearly making a difference and the latest figures highlight the need to keep going and pushing for further improvement. Although there have been major reductions in the number of children affected by dental decay, rates in Bolton are still very high compared to the national average and there is no room for complacency.
Ms Holgate said that it was incredibly important to carry on providing education for parents and children and encourage good oral health habits. Parents should be encouraged to take children to the dentist on a regular basis from an early age and to keep up to date with routine appointments in order to reduce the risk of dental disease and injuries, which may require emergency treatment.
The figures also showed that only 54 percent of adults in Bolton visited a dentist in the last 12 month period, despite recommendations from dentists, which suggest attending check-ups every 6-9 months.
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