Infants ‘are not regularly visiting NHS dentists’

A new report has highlighted the lack of frequent visits to NHS dentists among children aged one and two.

New analysis by the Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons has indicated that approximately 80 percent of children in this age group did not visit an NHS dentist in the 12 months ending March 31st 2017.

This is despite official guidance suggesting that children should begin dental check-ups when they develop their first tooth, with the analysis also showing that almost 60 percent of children aged one to four did not attend a dental check-up in the same period.

NHS dental check-ups for children are free, but widespread misunderstandings are emerging among parents – and even health professionals – about whether babies should visit the dentist. This could be contributing to a rise in the number of tooth extractions performed in hospitals on children aged one to four.

Professor Nigel Hunt, dean of the faculty of dental surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons, said: "In a nation which offers free dental care for under 18s, there should be no excuse for these statistics."

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