A new study reveals that children in the most deprived areas are over three times more likely to require tooth extractions compared to those in wealthier neighborhoods. The research, conducted by Queen Mary University, London, analyzed data from 608,278 children aged five to 16 in north-east London, finding that 3,034 had at least one tooth removed under general anesthesia.
While overall extraction rates are low, the study highlights significant ethnic disparities. Children from white Irish, Bangladeshi, and Pakistani backgrounds in Tower Hamlets showed higher extraction rates compared to their white British peers in Newham. Conversely, children from other ethnic groups in areas like Barking and Dagenham experienced lower rates.
Co-author Vanessa Muirhead emphasized the need for improved access to preventive dental care, noting that tooth extraction should be a last resort. The findings, published in BMJ Public Health, underscore the link between dental decay and socioeconomic status.
With tooth decay remaining the leading cause of hospital admissions for children aged five to nine, the Labour party has pledged to increase dental appointments and introduce a supervised tooth-brushing scheme for young children. The British Dental Association has called for urgent action to address these disparities and improve NHS dental services.
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