Only three in 10 children saw dentist last year

TWO thirds of children did not see a dentist last year, warn dental surgeons, who fear rising numbers will end up needing hospital treatment.

Official statistics show that last year fewer than three in 10 children saw a dentist, compared with six in 10 the year before. Even before the pandemic, dental decay was the top reason for children aged between five and nine being admitted to hospital. Dental surgeons raised fears that this year would see even more children ending up enduring surgery to have teeth extracted.

Matthew Garrett, dean of the faculty of dental surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of England, said: “While it is not surprising the number of children who saw an NHS dentist dropped so dramatically in 2020, we must improve access this year to avoid long-term damage to children’s teeth.”

All dental practices had to close during the first lockdown, and although many reopened over the summer, they mainly treated patients with dental emergencies.

Mr Garrett said: “Prior to the pandemic, dental decay was the top reason for children aged between five and nine years old to be admitted to hospital in England. We do not want to see a wave of children back in hospital for tooth extractions,” he said.