Tooth Decay Crisis

It appears that dental care for children in parts of the U.K. is currently failing badly. It has recently come to light that a number of five year old children have up to eight rotting teeth that are in such bad condition that an operation under general anesthetic is required to correct the problem. For the majority of children it is simply a case of removing the bad teeth.

Many children never visit a dentist and the situation is likely to get worse. Some cities report that by 2010 less than one third of adults will be registered with an NHS dentist. Many children start visiting a dentist with their parents, so as the number of adults attending a dentist surgery decreases more and more children are likely to miss out as well.

The problems are highlighted by a scheme being run by the University of Portsmouth. They have started bussing children from move deprived areas to their dentistry school for free check ups.

Many parents have been unable to find NHS dentists who will care for their children's teeth. Private dentists are simply too expensive. The result is figures showing on average each five-year-old in Portsmouth has almost two teeth decayed, missing or filled. Health bosses in the city have described the situation as "terrible".

John Weld, clinical director at the Portsmouth University's School of Professionals Complementary to Dentistry, was reported as saying: 'The general health of the teeth was below average and some were very rotten. Bussing children from school is one way to get over the general apathy of some families towards dentistry, which is sometimes driven by worry and fear.'

As well as the inability to find a dentist, children's diets and an inability to clean teeth properly are at the root of the problem. Diets heavy in sugary foods and fizzy drinks are not only fueling obesity they are also fueling a sharp decline in oral health.

Portsmouth NHS Primary Care Trust are working hard to improve the situation, but it is worrying that the picture in the city is very likely to replicated across the country. The trust has put an additional £1m into the city's dental services. Schools will be visited by oral health teams and there is also the promise of new NHS dental practices in the near future.

Dr Paul Edmondson-Jones, director of public health and wellbeing at the trust, said: 'Having children with oral health in the worst 20 per cent of the country is not something we want. That's absolutely terrible.

'Bringing children in to have their teeth fixed is to a certain extent closing the door after the horse has bolted. What's going to make a real difference is to stop this happening in the first place.'

One wonders if it is time for stronger health warnings on certain food and drinks in the same way that warnings have appeared on cigarette packets for years. Perhaps it is also time to look at the way these types of food and drinks are advertised on the television and in other areas of the media.

What do you think?
Login or Register to add a comment or ask a question.