New figures reveal more than 40% of children didn’t see a dentist last year
New figures reveal that more than 40 percent of children didn’t see a dentist last year, despite guidelines recommending 6-monthly check-ups.
Statistics obtained by NHS Digital show that 41% of children in England aged between 2 and 5 years didn’t go to the dentist last year. Dental experts advise frequent check-ups every 6-12 months for children from the age of 12 months. Data from the NHS also shows that only half of adults attended a dental check.
Professor Michael Escudier, dean of the Royal College of Surgeons’ Faculty of General Dentistry, described the situation as “unacceptable” and said that the data underlines just how far there is to go in improving dental health standards in England.
The figures show that attendance rates were highest in the North of England for both children and adults. The national average for attendance for adults was 50.7 percent, but the figure was significantly higher at 56.1% in the North. Attendance was lowest in the South East at 45.6 percent. Over 63% of children in the North went to a dentist last year, compared to 58.1 percent in the South East. Attendance rates were particularly low among young children, with only a third of toddlers going to the dentist.
Prof Escudier said that it’s vital that parents are encouraged to take their children to the dentist on a regular basis from the age of around 12 months old. Routine checks not only reduce the risk of dental issues, but they also give children the chance to get used to the surgery environment, which helps to lower the risk of anxiety in later life. NHS dental care is available free of charge for children.
Join this Discussion