Irish dentists appeal for routine dental screenings in schools
Dentists in Ireland are appealing for the introduction of routine dental screenings in primary schools in a bid to tackle worrying rates of tooth decay.
The Irish Dental Association has called for primary school children to be screened on a regular basis following the publication of a new study, which suggests that some children are having up to nine teeth extracted by the time they reach the age of 12 years old. The IDA wants to see more money invested in preventative dental programmes for children over the coming years to reduce spending on procedures carried out in hospital. The cost of treating each child was estimated at 819 Euros, which is around 8 times the cost of providing a child with preventative measures.
Dr Michaela Dalton, from the IDA, suggested that the research shows that preventative methods are not just beneficial for children, but also for the state, as providing preventative care is a lot more cost-effective than treating children in hospital.
Reports suggest that over 10,000 children are having teeth extracted in hospital each year, and Dr Dalton said this figure is far too high. Almost all cases of dental decay are preventable, yet thousands of children are ending up requiring treatment under general anaesthetic.
The key to stemming the tide lies in improved education, modifications to the modern diet, and ensuring that children see a dentist on a regular basis. Screening would enable children to undergo frequent checks, which would reduce the risk of decay, and help to improve standards of oral health in years to come.
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