DT News - UK - More English adults see NHS dentists

Dental Tribune International

Mon. 1 September 2014

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LEEDS, UK: The number of adult and child patients who visit a National Health Service (NHS) dentist is rising, but only the North of England has recorded an increase in the percentage of the child population seen by a dentist compared with eight years ago, the latest figures show. The report also found an 18 per cent rise in the number of dentists performing NHS activity since 2006/7.

Just over 29.9 million adults and children (i.e. patients under the age of 18) in England saw an NHS dentist in the 24 months before June 2014, according to the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC). This is 1.8 million (6.3 per cent) more than in the 24 months before March 2006, when the reporting series began, and equates to 55.9 per cent of the population seen in the 24 months before June 2014 (compared with 55.6 per cent in the 24 months before March 2006).

However, while the total number and percentage of adults seen by June 2014 are higher than in 2006, the percentage of the child population seen has fallen by almost 1 percentage point.

NHS Dental Statistics for England, 2013/14, which provides information about patients seen by dentists and NHS dental activity in England, shows that 22.0 million adults (52.3 per cent of the adult population) had been seen in the 24 months before June 2014 compared with 20.3 million (51.5 per cent) in the 24 months before March 2006. The report also shows that 7.9 million children (69.2 per cent of the child population) had seen a dentist in the 24 months before June 2014, compared with 7.8 million (70.2 per cent) in 24 months before March 2006.

In terms of the four NHS regions in England (North, South, London, and Midlands and East ), in the 24 months before June 2014, the total number of adults seen rose in all regions compared with the 24 months before March 2006, but only two—the North and the South—saw a rise in the percentage of the population seen (with falls in the London, and Midlands and East regions).

The largest percentage of the adult population seen was in the North at 57.6 per cent (6.9 million)—a rise of 1.1 percentage points (420,000) on 2006. The lowest was in London at 46.6 per cent (3.0 million)—a fall of 1.8 percentage points on 2006.

The total number of children seen rose in two regions, the North and London, compared with the 24 months before March 2006, but only the North saw a rise in the percentage of the population seen—of 3.1 percentage points (73,000).

The North also accounted for the largest percentage of the child population seen at 74.0 per cent (2.4 million). The lowest was in London at 63.0 per cent (1.2 million)—a fall of 0.8 percentage points on 2006.

HSCIC chair Kingsley Manning said, “Today’s report shows one impact of a growing population on NHS dentistry. While more and more people are taking a turn in the dentist’s chair, the proportion of the population seen is increasing slightly for adults but dipping slightly for children compared to eight years ago.”

Manning explained that both the national and regional situation will be of interest to the public, and provides a basis for further exploration for health professionals. He said that the report also highlights dental workforce statistics, which show an 18 per cent rise in the number of dentists performing NHS activity since 2006/7, and will help to develop a fuller picture of the state of NHS dentistry in England.

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