Shocking Numbers of Kids Have Tooth Decay!
A study by the Faculty of Dental Surgery (FDS) at The Royal College of Surgeons reveals that 34,205 UK children below the age of 10 years in England required hospital treatment under general anaesthetic for tooth decay in the period of one year between April 2016 and March 2017.
In fact, twice as many kids had hospital treatment for dental cavities compared to those with broken arms. This fact is shocking for health experts. It has been described as a scandal. Tooth decay is almost always preventable.
The study findings revealed that overall 45,224 children and teenagers from infancy to 19 years of age required hospital treatment for tooth decay in 2016/17. The youngest patient was less than a year old.
These findings support and give credence to the campaign by the British Society of Pediatric Dentistry emphasizing the need for children to get a dental checkup before attaining the age of one. Approximately four in five children between the age of one and two years have not seen a dentist in the previous year..
At Balsall Common Dental Practice we see children under four years old free with other children and students seen as members of our child membership plan.
We focus our efforts on preserving dental health and preventing decay and infections. I am pleased to sat we are very good at it! We look after about 1000 children and students and less than 2% of them have suffered any tooth decay at all. This compares very favourably with the national average decay rates in children which show decay affecting 25% of 5 year olds and 50% of 15 year olds in the country.
We offer 6 months free membership of our child dental plan to new patients. You can download a voucher to access this offer here.
6 months free child plan