Public Health England publishes guidance on child oral health
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- Published: Monday, 03 July 2017 07:37
- Written by News Editor
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The new guidance looks at the scale of the problem, risk factors for tooth decay, how it can be prevented and effective interventions for improving children’s’ oral health. It also calls for action outlining how all partners across the health and care system can help prevent tooth decay in children under 5 as part of ensuring every child has the best start in life.
Dr Sandra White, who is the director of dental public health at Public Health England, writes:
“Tooth decay is largely preventable yet it remains a serious problem. In England, a quarter (25%) of 5 year olds had experienced tooth decay, having on average 3 or 4 teeth affected. The vast majority of tooth decay was untreated. PHE data shows that in 2015, a quarter of 5-year-olds experienced tooth decay in England, and the vast majority went untreated.
“In 2015-2016 tooth decay was the most common reason for hospital admission for children aged 5 to 9 years-old and the sixth most common procedure in hospital for children aged 4 years and under. Children who have toothache or who need treatment may have pain, infections and difficulties with eating, sleeping and socialising. They may have to be absent from school and parents may also have to take time off work to take their children to a dentist or to hospital.
“Figures from 2015 show wide variation in the prevalence of tooth decay; children living in areas in the north and in more deprived local authority areas tend to have poorer dental health. Despite being largely preventable, dental disease places significant costs on the NHS. In 2015 the average cost of an episode of tooth extraction in hospital for a child was £836, and in 2015-16 tooth extractions in children aged 0-19 years cost approximately £50.5 million. The majority of these were for tooth decay. For children aged 4 years and under the cost of tooth extractions was approximately £7.8 million.
Targeted community fluoride varnish programmes can result in an extra 3,049 school days gained per 5,000 children and PHE estimates that after 5 years, the return on investment for this intervention is £2.29 for every £1 spent and £2.74 after 10 years for every £1 spent. Other interventions include water fluoridation schemes and the provision of toothbrushes and paste by post and health visitors. PHE’s sugar reduction programme will also support children and families to consume less sugar and reduce their risk of tooth decay.
The guidance can be found at:
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