New Figures Show Fall in Number of Adults Visiting a Dentist

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New figures from the NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre have shown a fall in the number of adults visiting a dentist. The latest statistics show a 0.3 per cent fall in the proportion of UK adults who have visited a dentist in the last 2 years compared to the previous two year period leading up to April 2013.

The study also revealed that fewer children are visiting a dentist, despite the fact that children’s dental care is provided free of charge on the NHS. The statistics show that only 60 per cent of children saw a dentist in the two-year period leading up to the end of March 2015 and only 52 per cent of adults saw a dentist in this period.

Dean of the faculty of dentistry at the Royal College of Surgeons of England, Professor Nigel Hunt, suggested that the figures show ten years of inertia in terms of access to dental care and added that they are very worrying. The fact that half of adults and over a third of children haven’t visited a dentist in a two-year period is alarming, especially as dentists recommend routine checks every 6-9 months and these check-ups are essential for our oral health.

The effects of neglecting oral health can clearly be seen; dental decay is now the main reason for hospital admission among 5-9 year olds in the UK. Professor Hunt called for the new government to act swiftly to address problems with access to NHS services and introduce a campaign to encourage people to see a dentist and learn about the significance of regular dental visits.

Despite the overall fall in dental visits, there was a slight increase in the number of adults visiting a dentist in London.

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