New figures reveal that one in eight five-year-olds in Broadland have dental decay, shedding light on ongoing challenges in oral health among young children. The British Dental Association (BDA) has voiced concern that there has been little to no progress in addressing these issues, particularly with the government’s failure to implement key prevention programs in schools and tackle the ongoing crisis in NHS dentistry.
The latest data from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities highlights that 13.3% of five-year-olds in Broadland experienced enamel and dentinal decay during the 2023-24 academic year. Nationally, the figure stood at 26.9%, showing a marginal improvement from 29.3% in the previous year. Despite this slight decline, experts from the BDA argue that the situation remains dire.
Eddie Crouch, the BDA Chairman, criticized the government’s lack of action on the Labour manifesto’s promises to address the broken NHS dental contract and deliver prevention programs for schools. He emphasized the urgency of the matter, stating that children are bearing the brunt of the government’s failure to prioritize dental health.
“While new administrations may label this crisis as ‘Dickensian’, tangible action—rather than words—will be the key to turning the situation around,” Crouch remarked.
David Fothergill, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, echoed these concerns, noting that untreated dental issues are among the leading causes of hospital admissions for children and teens. Over 31,000 dental operations took place in 2023 to remove decayed teeth. He also highlighted the glaring disparities in oral health, particularly between more affluent and disadvantaged regions. Children in the most deprived areas are over twice as likely to suffer from dental decay compared to those in wealthier areas.
Fothergill called on the government to invest in council-run oral health programs in the upcoming spending review. He believes these initiatives are crucial for instilling healthy oral hygiene habits in young children and preventing the worsening dental decay epidemic.
Regional disparities in dental health are also concerning. Decay rates vary significantly, with the East of England seeing 23.3% of children affected, while the North West has the highest rate at 36.8%.
Dr. Charlotte Eckhardt, Dean of the Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons, expressed alarm over the growing number of children suffering from preventable dental conditions. While she acknowledged the potential benefits of supervised toothbrushing programs (STPs), she pointed out that these programs’ rollout has been uneven across the country. However, evidence shows that STPs can lead to significant reductions in dental decay within a year of implementation.
Health Minister Stephen Kinnock has also spoken out against the prevalence of preventable dental decay among children, calling the situation “appalling.” He criticized the lack of effectiveness of the New Patient Premium, a scheme aimed at improving access to dental treatment. Kinnock announced plans to reform NHS dentistry, including a new early intervention program featuring supervised toothbrushing initiatives in deprived areas. Additionally, the government intends to deliver 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and overhaul the dental contract to encourage more dentists to provide NHS services.
The growing concern surrounding dental decay in young children underscores the urgent need for comprehensive and effective public health strategies to tackle this crisis and address the glaring disparities in oral health across the UK.
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