SIX hundred children a week have rotten teeth pulled out in hospital operations, figures show.
The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities said there were 31,165 extractions to combat decay in under-20s in England last year.
GettyHundreds of children need surgery to have rotten teeth removed every week[/caption]
It is equal to an average of 599 per week.
The ops make up two thirds of all emergency dental work in that age group and are the number one reason primary school kids are admitted to hospital.
Numbers are lower than in the pre-pandemic years but increased by 17 per cent in a year and are a “sobering reminder” of the problem, dentists said.
It comes as politicians and dentists squabble over whether to roll out supervised toothbrushing in schools.
Dr Charlotte Eckhardt, chief dentist at the Royal College of Surgeons, said: “These figures are a sobering reminder of the prevalence of tooth decay, which is largely preventable.
“It is shocking that it remains the most common reason for hospital admission in children aged between five and nine.
“This highlights the urgent need for improved access to NHS dentists.”
Separate figures show half of children have not had an NHS dentist check-up for at least a year.
This is harming children and costing the NHS through the nose.
Wes Streeting
Hospital surgery for children’s rotten teeth cost the Department of Health £41million in 2022-23.
Youngsters in Yorkshire are most likely to need teeth pulled, with the North East, North West, London and South West all recording rates higher than England’s average.
The East and West Midlands, South East and East of England had below-average rates.
Poor children are nearly four times more likely to need surgery than rich kids.
Labour’s shadow health secretary, Wes Streeting, said: “Not only is this harming children‘s start to life, it’s costing the NHS through the nose.”
David Fothergill, of the Local Government Association, added: “Untreated dental care affects children and young people’s ability to speak, eat, play and socialise.”
Dentists want more help from the government
The British Dental Association told ministers to bring in toothbrushing in schools and tighter controls on sugary food.
They were not included in health chiefs’ dental recovery plan this week.
Chairman Eddie Crouch said: “They need to grow up and double down on tried-and-tested programmes.”
What is the plan to fix NHS dentistry?
It is based on a £200million investment to offer patients more appointments and pay dentists better.
But the British Dental Association accused it of being “rearranging the deckchairs” and called for tougher reform.
Here are the key elements of the plan:
Funding for 2.5million more dental appointments
A bonus worth £15 to £50 per person for dentists to treat patients who have not had a check-up for two years or more
“Dental vans” sent to isolated communities to make it easier for people in rural areas to get checked and treated
Oral hygiene sessions and toothbrushing classes for pre-school aged children and new and expecting parents
A £20,000 bonus for around 240 dentists to move and work in areas that are “under-served”
Fluoride may be added to the water supply in the North East of England to reduce rates of tooth decay
Dentists will be subsidised £28 for every unit of treatment they give to NHS patients, up from £23
A Department of Health spokesperson said: “Access to dental services is improving, and last year around 800,000 more children saw an NHS dentist.
“Our new dental recovery plan sets out how we will make access to dentistry faster, simpler and fairer.
“We will drive a major new focus on prevention and good oral health in young children.
“This includes the Smile for Life programme – providing advice to parents and parents-to-be to promote good practices in their children – and providing fluoride varnish for children in schools in under-served areas to reduce tooth decay.”