Figures show 500 children are having teeth extracted in Southampton every year
Figures from before the pandemic show that 500 children are having teeth extracted in Southampton every year.
Tooth decay is preventable, yet hundreds of children in the city are having their teeth removed by dentists. Approximately 1% of young children needed a tooth extracting in the city at the time of the most recent study. Experts are worried that numbers have increased since due to a shortage of dental appointments and pauses in routine and preventative dental services for children during lockdowns.
The council’s health panel met recently to discuss local dental services, with most complaints from residents linked to access issues. Many local people are not able to make appointments or find dental practices that are taking on new NHS patients, including children.
The panel raised concerns about practices taking patients off lists and discussed a lack of options for parents who can’t register their child at the same practice.
Healthwatch has also flagged problems in the city. One case study related to a patient who had 15 teeth removed followed by three cancelled appointments. Other patients reported having to travel long distances to get an appointment and being unable to see a dentist unless they were willing to pay for private treatment.
Dr Debbie Chase, director for public health, highlighted the impact of deprivation on the demand for dental treatment. Statistically, people who live in deprived areas are more likely to experience poor dental health. There is a high level of demand in Southampton, but the supply doesn’t match. In some areas, NHS dentist numbers have decreased by over 25%.
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