More Than Half Of Hackney Children Have Not Seen A Dentist For 2 Years
More than half of the children living in Hackney, London, have not seen a dentist for more than 2 years, according to the latest figures from the National Health Service Social Care Information Centre.
According to the statistics, only 45.1 per cent of children in Hackney have seen a dentist in the last two years, a significantly lower figure than the London average, which was 63.1 per cent and the national average, which was 69.1 per cent.
The figures confirmed Hackney as the worst borough for dental visits in the whole of England and revealed that standards of oral health in the City and Hackney Teaching PCT area, which is now known as the City and Hackney CCG, were considerably lower than other areas of London.
The low turnout for dental appointments undoubtedly raises concerns about oral health among children in the borough; skipping and missing appointments increases the risk of decay and gum disease and contributes to early tooth loss, which increases the risk of dental problems further down the line. The figures are particularly alarming as dental care for children is provided free of charge on the NHS.
Despite the worrying figures, there is some good news, as the proportion of children seeing a dentist in Hackney has increased; NHS England (London) has also confirmed that five dental practices in the borough have been commissioned to provide fluoride varnish schemes for children. Fluoride varnish helps to strengthen the tooth enamel and protect the teeth from decay.
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