In a troubling reflection of the UK’s dental crisis, a dentist removed 18 decayed teeth from a three-year-old child, leaving only two remaining. This incident is highlighted in tonight’s BBC Panorama, which features Professor Helen Rodd discussing the urgent need for dental care amid lengthy NHS waiting times—some areas face up to a two-year wait.
Labour leader Keir Starmer has pledged to create 700,000 new NHS dental appointments and implement a supervised tooth-brushing program for children aged three to five. Professor Rodd underscores the distressing impact of early dental decay, which can lead to pain and long-term health issues.
According to the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, over 47,000 children aged 0 to 19 underwent tooth extractions last year, primarily due to decay, costing the NHS approximately £40.7 million annually. A Labour analysis reveals that 71.1% of dentists in England are not accepting new pediatric patients.
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