50 children a day sent to hospital with rotten teeth

MORE than 50 children a day aged five to nine are admitted to hospital with rotten teeth.

- By Jaymi McCann

Shocking figures reveal 21,162 were treated in the 12 months to April this year and dental hygiene has now outstripped non-preventable illnesses for admissions.

NHS England records show the number of hospital stays for rotten teeth were 65% higher than for acute tonsillitis, the next most common illness, which stood at 13,667.

It comes as the NHS Business Services Authority said 43% of children have not seen a NHS dentist in the past year.

Dr Charlotte Eckhardt, dean of the Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of England, said: “These figures are a public health emergency.

“Tooth decay is entirely preventable, yet thousands of children are hospitalised every year for procedures that could have been avoided with simple daily habits and better access to a NHS dentist.

“The Government’s dental contract must be boldly overhauled if they want to improve patient access and outcomes.”