NHS ‘could save millions’ if children with toothache saw a dentist

THE NHS could save millions of pounds if children with toothache saw their dentist before going to another health worker, according to a new study.

Researchers say there is a “concerning” under-use of dental services after it found that some children had multiple contacts with other health officials such as GPs, nurses or A&E trips.

Experts from Queen Mary University of London examined data on almost 7,000 parents who visited pharmacies in London to pick up pain medication for their child. Of these, 65 per cent were picking up medication for oral pain. When quizzed on where they had sought help prior to their pharmacy visit, just 30 per cent said they had taken their child to see their dentist and 15 per cent had been to see a GP or practice nurse.

The researchers, who published their study in the journal BMJ Open, calculated that the NHS spends an estimated £2.3m every year when children with oral pain inappropriately use multiple health services.

Lead researcher Dr Vanessa Muirhead said: “The fact that only 30 per cent of children with oral pain had seen a dentist before going to a pharmacy highlights a concerning under-use of dental services. Children with oral pain need to see a dentist for a definitive diagnosis and to treat any tooth decay. Not treating a decayed tooth can result in more pain, abscesses and possible damage to children’s permanent teeth.”

Last year a report by the Nuffield Trust and Health Foundation found wide variations in dental health between southern and northern England.

In Yorkshire, hospitalisation for tooth extractions in the under 10s was five times higher than in the east of England.