A new study reveals that children in deprived areas are three times more likely to undergo tooth extractions under general anaesthetic due to severe decay.
The research, conducted by Queen Mary University, found that one in 200 children had at least one tooth removed within five years, often multiple teeth. Ethnic disparities are also notable, with:
White Irish children twice as likely
Pakistani children four times as likely
Bangladeshi children five times as likely
Analyzing anonymized records for over 600,000 children in north-east London, researchers defined deprived areas as those with the highest proportion of low-income households.
Call for Better Dental Care Access
Lead researcher Nicola Firman highlighted the need for equitable access to preventive dental services. Co-author Vanessa Muirhead emphasized that lack of timely care often leads to severe issues requiring costly interventions.
The study, funded by Barts Charity, points to significant health inequalities. In response, a new outreach clinic in Homerton aims to improve access to dental care in affected areas, according to Christopher Tredwin, dean of the Queen Mary Institute of Dentistry.
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