NHS England challenge dentists to see more pre-school children

With latest figures showing 140 children having decayed teeth removed, dentists have been challenged to see a further 70,000 pre-school children by NHS England over the next year.

With NHS England believing that good dental health habits can prevent oral health problems later in life, they launched a starting well core initiative, offering dentists support and training materials, as well as communications to encourage the public to take their children to the dentist at a young age. Off the back of this initiative, the NHS claims that 10% of children under the age of two have had their first dental check-up.

Chief dental officer for England, Sara Hurley said ‘Regular visits to your dentist from a very early age, is key to developing habits that lead to a lifetime of good oral health. The NHS is providing additional support to dentists to help them see more children, so that painful and distressing dental operations, later in life, can be reduced.’