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England: rise in hospital admissions of children with severe tooth decay Decayed teeth removed from 128,000 children in England since 2011
(35 minutes later)
Tens of thousands of children have had decaying teeth removed in hospitals in England, an increase for the fourth year in a row, new figures show. Tens of thousands of children have had decaying teeth removed in hospitals in England, according to the latest figures, which show an increase for the fourth year in a row.
The figures indicate a rise of almost 10% in hospital admissions of children for severe tooth decay in England over a four-year period, with the report’s authors pointing out “a strong correlation between area deprivation and the rate of tooth extraction”. There has been a rise of almost 10% in child hospital admissions for severe tooth decay in England over a four-year period, with the report’s authors pointing out “a strong correlation between area deprivation and the rate of tooth extraction”.
More than 128,000 children aged 10 and under have needed one or more teeth taken out since 2011, often in cases where the decay may have been preventable. More than 128,000 children aged 10 and under have needed at least one removed since 2011, often in cases where the decay may have been preventable.
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There were 14,445 admissions of children aged five and under between April 2014 and March the following year, and a further 19,336 cases of six-to-10-year-olds having teeth taken out in hospital in the same period. More boys than girls were likely to have suffered from severe tooth decay. There were 14,445 admissions of children aged five and under between April 2014 and March the following year, and a further 19,336 cases of six- to10-year-olds having teeth taken out in hospital in the same period. More boys than girls were likely to have suffered from severe tooth decay.
Among the most deprived children, the rate of tooth extraction is almost five times that for those from the least deprived decile, according to the statistics analysed by the Health and Social Care Information Centre. The rate of tooth extraction among the most deprived children is almost five times that for those from the least deprived decile, according to the statistics analysed by the Health and Social Care Information Centre.
In Yorkshire and the Humber, the tooth extraction rate was more than five times that for the east of England. London had the most children who needed to be hospitalised for severe tooth decay, with 8,362 having teeth removed. In Yorkshire and the Humber, the tooth extraction rate was more than five times that for the east of England. London had the most children who needed to be admitted to hospital for severe tooth decay, with 8,362 having teeth removed.
Prof Nigel Hunt, dean of the faculty of dental surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons, called the 9.81% increase unacceptable. “Not only is tooth decay distressing to children and parents, it has serious social and financial implications,” he said. “The need for tooth extraction continues to be the number one reason why five-to-nine-year-old children are admitted to hospital. This issue urgently needs to be addressed, especially since 90% of tooth decay is preventable.” Prof Nigel Hunt, the dean of the dental surgery faculty at the Royal College of Surgeons, said the 9.81% increase was unacceptable.
The report’s authors said the figures show the children have been “missed in primary care dentistry as the tooth decay is severe enough that they need hospital treatment, therefore it is likely that they have not regularly attended the dentist.” They said: “If they had gone to the dentist their tooth decay should have been picked up earlier and not reached the stage of extraction. The treatment occurring in secondary care implies the children are having their teeth extracted under general anaesthetic and means that tooth decay has reached extreme levels.” “Not only is tooth decay distressing to children and parents, it has serious social and financial implications,” he said. “The need for tooth extraction continues to be the number one reason why five- to nine-year-old children are admitted to hospital. This issue urgently needs to be addressed, especially since 90% of tooth decay is preventable.”
Hunt called for more government action with dentists to raise awareness on the impact of sugar on tooth decay, and to improve access to NHS dental services for the poorest patients. “Around 40% of children still do not visit a dentist each year,” he said. “Regular visits provide rapid diagnosis and treatment to prevent children being hospitalised due to tooth decay.” The report’s authors say the figures show the children who have been “missed in primary care dentistry as the tooth decay is severe enough that they need hospital treatment, therefore it is likely that they have not regularly attended the dentist”.
“If they had gone to the dentist their tooth decay should have been picked up earlier and not reached the stage of extraction. The treatment occurring in secondary care implies the children are having their teeth extracted under general anaesthetic and means that tooth decay has reached extreme levels.”
Hunt called for more government action with dentists to raise awareness of the impact of sugar on tooth decay, and to improve access to NHS dental services for the poorest patients. “Around 40% of children still do not visit a dentist each year,” he said. “Regular visits provide rapid diagnosis and treatment to prevent children being hospitalised due to tooth decay.”