Adolescent Dental Decay in Northern Ireland the Highest in Europe
Teenagers in Northern Ireland have the worst levels of tooth decay in Europe, according to a study by Queen’s University.
The high rates of dental decay were found in certain areas, where the levels of poverty were also high and thus teenagers were more like to suffer with poor nutrition, without the finances to pay for dental treatment.
In contrast, those living in other more affluent Northern Ireland areas were able to afford orthodontic and cosmetic treatments.
Peter Crooks from the BDA highlighted how the current dental contract does not provide dentists with the funds to provide preventive dental treatments and had much to say on the Department of Health’s reluctance to change dental health strategies.
“We have been talking with the Department of Health for the past five years and there seems to be very little progress in this and our young people throughout the country need to have better dental health. Prevention will do most to help that on its way.”
However, in retort the Chief Dental Officer, Donnocha O’Carolan from the Department of Health had this to say:
“We do have poor oral health levels in Northern Ireland but the department has been extremely pro-active in the last five or six years to reduce these decay levels.”
Both hope to come to a conclusion, to help those suffering from poor dental health in the area find the treatment they need.
Join this Discussion
