A third of Peterborough children missed out on dental visits last year, new figures reveal
New figures published by NHS Digital show that a third of children in Peterborough didn’t see a dentist last year. The statistics revealed that only 63 percent of children had at least one check-up in 2017.
Public Health England recommends regular dental checks for children of all ages, and the figures will spark concern among local dentists and health experts. Ideally, children should see the dentist every 6-9 months, but more than 18,000 children in Peterborough didn’t have a check-up last year.
Routine checks are recommended to prevent gum disease and decay, the most common cause of hospital admissions among children in England. Missing out on regular appointments puts children at risk of losing teeth prematurely, as well as developing infections.
Research conducted by the NHS shows that the number of children having teeth extracted under general anaesthetic has risen from 36,883 in 2012/2013 to 42,911 in 2016/2017. This figure relates to procedures where at least two teeth were removed.
Dietary factors, most notably, excessive sugar consumption, play a part, but the British Dental Association is also eager to highlight the importance of regular dental checks for children. NHS dental care is available free of charge for all children in England, and check-ups take a matter of minutes. The BDA has urged parents to get in touch with local dental practices if they wish to find out more about NHS services or register their child.
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