Hospitals see massive surge in kids and teens needing teeth removed due to decay
Hospitals have seen a huge surge in children and teenagers needing teeth removed due to tooth decay.
Dentists are warning lack of access to NHS dentists were increasing the numbers of youngsters turning up in A&E needing emergency extractions.
New Government data shows that 42,180 operations for tooth extraction took place in NHS hospitals in England in 2021/22 for those aged under 20.
Of these, 26,741 had a main diagnosis of tooth decay, representing 63% of tooth extractions for the age group.
Tooth decay is the most common reason for hospital admission in children aged six to 10.
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There was an 83% increase in extractions for tooth decay compared with 2020/21, though the report said “this increase is likely to reflect a partial recovery of hospital services following the Covid-19 pandemic”.
Shockingly tooth decay is the most common reason for hospital admission in children aged six to 10 years old (stock image) (Getty Images)The British Dental Association says it is “deeply concerned” by “ongoing and severe access problems, disruption to public health programmes and lockdown diets”.
Chairman Eddie Crouch added: “Tooth decay is still going unchallenged as the number one reason for hospital admissions among young children.
“Decay and deprivation are going hand in hand, and this inequality is set to widen.
“None of this is inevitable. This Government needs to be willing to take off the gloves when it comes to fighting a wholly preventable disease.”
A BBC investigation reported in August that 91% of dental practices in England were unable to take on new adult NHS patients, with 79% unable to take on new child patients.
The BDA warns cuts to Government funding and “perverse” incentives do not encourage dentists to take on NHS patients.
The new data showed that children living in the most deprived communities are around 3.5 times more likely to have teeth out due to decay than those in the most affluent areas.
The highest rates occurred in Yorkshire and the Humber (378 per 100,000 population of children aged 19 and under) while the lowest rates were in the East Midlands (71 per 100,000).
The cost to the NHS of removing rotting teeth was estimated at £50.9 million in 2021 to 2022.
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The report said that while the number of operations for tooth extraction in 2021/22 was higher than the previous year, levels were still lower than pre-pandemic figures.
David Fothergill, chairman of the Local Government Association’s community wellbeing board, said: “Untreated dental conditions remain one of the most prevalent diseases affecting children and young people’s ability to speak, eat, play and socialise.
“Oral health inequality is expected to grow owing to the scale of backlogs in primary care, which limit the chance to catch problems early.
“The Government must use the upcoming spring Budget to recommit to vital measures to combat childhood obesity and diet-related ill health, such as the sugar levy which has helped cut down the consumption of drinks with high sugar content.”
Martin Bagot A spokeswoman for the Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “Good oral health is incredibly important and the number of children seen by NHS dentists increased by 43.6% in the last year.
“Likewise in hospitals we have seen an increase in hospital operations for tooth extraction for those aged 0-19 as oral healthcare services continue to recover from the pandemic.
“The number of dentists increased by over 500 last year and the government is investing more than £3 billion in NHS dentistry including so people can access services when they need them.”
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