DT News - UK - Tooth extractions are main reason for children's hospital admissions

Dental Tribune International

Thu. 17 July 2014

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LEEDS – The main reason for English children of primary school age being admitted to hospital is multiple tooth extraction. According to the latest figures, 25,812 children aged 5–9 are affected with tooth decay every year. Data has also proved that children’s oral health is worsening.

The newest figures were analysed by the Health and Social Care Information Centre, an executive non-departmental public body responsible for collecting, analysing and presenting national health and social care data; and helping health and care organisations improve the quality of the data they collect, among other roles.

As reported by websites www.thesundaytimes.co.uk and www.medscape.com, the number of children aged between 5 and 9 needing hospital treatment for dental problems rose by more than 3,000. Provisional figures for the period 2013/2014 show that 25,812 children from that age group were admitted to hospital to undergo multiple tooth extractions, a figure up from 22,574 three years before.

In the newborn to 4 years age group, the number of cases of children admitted to hospital for tooth extractions also increased, from 8,060 in 2010/2011 to a provisional figure of 8,758 in 2013/2014.

“We have children who require all 20 of their baby teeth to be extracted. It beggars belief that their diets could produce such a drastic effect,” Dr Kathryn Harley, former Dean of the Faculty of Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, told the Sunday Times.

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