Nearly 60% of 1 -4 year olds failed to see a dentist in 2018

According to data from the Faculty of Dental Surgery (FDS) six in ten children between the ages of 1 and four failed to visits an NHS dentist in 2018. This is a cause for concern when stats from Public Health England state that 141 children a day are having teeth removed.
Professor Michael Escudier, dean of the FDS commented “it’s really disappointing that so many children failed to see an NHS dentist last year. It’s so important for a child first interaction with a dentist to be a positive one, and getting them into the habit of visiting a dentist will stop them fearing a visit and prevent further problems in the future.”
Clinical director and dentist for Bupa Dental Care Steve Preddy added “Children’s oral health is so important. Children should be seeing a dentist as soon as their first teeth start to come through. I’d like to remind parents that children under the age of 18 receive free NHS treatment as do those under 19 in full time education.”
Brushing sessions introduced to primary schools and nurseries in Scotland and Wales have shown success in improving children’s oral health and the FDS are now calling for a similar initiative to be introduced around England.