Number of children having teeth extracted in England rises again
The number of children having teeth extracted in hospital in England has risen again. New figures show that 42,911 procedures were carried out in English hospitals in 2016/2017 compared to 40,800 in 2015/2016 and 36,833 in 2012/2013.
In light of the news, the British Dental Association has labelled the government “short-sighted” and urged ministers to act urgently to stem the rising tide of decay. The BDA also suggested that standards of oral care are lower in England than in Wales and Scotland and claimed that dental patients in England are receiving a second-rate service.
The government has vowed to try and tackle the increasingly worrying issue of childhood decay and ministers are working on measures that will bring extraction numbers down, including the introduction of a sugar tax. The tax, which will be applied to products such as fizzy drinks, will come into play in April.
Dentists say that almost all cases of decay are preventable, as the vast majority are linked to poor oral hygiene and diet. Children are consuming more sugar than ever before, and this trend is undoubtedly impacting standards of oral health.
Clare Stevens, a dental surgeon, said that most of her patients are aged between 5 and 9, but it’s increasingly common to come across much younger children, sometimes, toddlers, who need several teeth extracting due to widespread decay.
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