21 July 2023 , 14:35
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Thousands of children across the country are facing long waits for NHS dental care and new analysis has revealed the areas with the worst dental health.
Figures shows there is a stark north-south divide in England when it comes to rotten teeth with the latest statistics showing that NHS dentists performed 9.8 million fillings, fissure sealants and tooth extractions on adults and 3.3 million on children across the country in 2020/21.
These procedures are typically used when people have tooth decay to the point that dentists need to intervene - either by filling in holes in their teeth, reapplying protective sealants, or removing the tooth altogether.
Compared to the population, it means there were 219 fillings, fissure sealants and extractions performed for every 1,000 adults in the country, and 284 for every 1,000 children.
However, there’s a huge regional divide when it comes to the problem - all of the areas with the highest rates of these procedures are in the north, and the areas with the lowest rates are in the south.
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England has a dental crisis (Getty Images)This new analysis follows the recent release of shocking figures, revealing thousands of children across England are facing long waits for dental treatment.
Data obtained under freedom of information by the Liberal Democrats showed that children in some parts of the country are waiting up to 18 months on average for dental procedures under general anaesthetic.
These mainly include tooth extractions, leaving some children waiting in agony for years.
Daisy Cooper, the Liberal Democrat health spokesperson, said the “heartbreaking” figures show a “stark postcode lottery” when it comes to dental care.
You can see where your area ranks by entering your postcode here: