Nearly half of all children have not been seen by an NHS dentist in the past year, damning figures reveal

Nearly half of children have not visited a dentist in the past year. More than 5 million children are late for their appointments, a new, devastating study has found.

This is because rotten teeth are still the biggest cause of hospital admissions in children between the ages of five and nine, due to poor diet, not brushing teeth properly and difficulty finding a dentist in the so-called ‘dental deserts’.

The NHS recommends that under-18s visit the dentist at least once a year, as their teeth can rot more quickly than adults. Adults are advised to have check-ups every two years.

But a new study by the House of Commons Library, commissioned by the Liberal Democrats [must keep]shows that 5.35 million children have not been seen for at least a year.

This applies to almost 1 million children in the South East of England alone, where almost half (46.1 per cent) are behind on their appointments.

Rotten teeth are still the leading cause of hospital admissions in children between the ages of five and nine. (Stock photo)

Research has shown that 5.35 million children have not been seen for at least a year. (Stock photo)

This is comparable to the situation across the country, where 44.6 percent of children are late for a check-up.

Hackney, a deprived London borough, has the worst figures in England, with 62.3 per cent of children unseen last year.

Other areas with high percentages include Herefordshire (61.7 percent), Portsmouth (59.3 percent) and Thurrock (58.54 percent).

Researchers estimated the number of children who had not visited a dentist in the year to March 2024, using official population data and NHS statistics.

Daisy Cooper, Liberal Democrat health spokesperson, said: “It is a scandal that millions of children across the country are unable to access basic dental care.

‘The previous Conservative government mismanaged dentistry in the NHS to the point where too little was spent on dentistry while children’s teeth were being left to rot.

This terrible situation cannot continue any longer.

‘We Liberals are calling for an emergency registration scheme so that children who are eligible for free check-ups can actually get them. We are also calling for reform of the broken dental contract so that more dentists return to the NHS and the scandal of dental negligence is brought to an end.

‘The new government cannot waste time in tackling this emergency and saving NHS dentistry so our children get the care they deserve.’

The British Dental Association, which represents dentists, warned that wide gaps in oral health are already growing due to persistent access issues.

Eddie Crouch, chairman of the BDA, said: ‘The government has a duty to ensure the future of NHS dentistry is safe for the millions of children who cannot access it.

‘The gap between rich and poor in oral health is widening. The only way we can pull this service back from the brink is to fix the broken contract that is fueling this crisis.’

Dr Helen Stewart, health improvement officer at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said: ‘The link between deprivation and tooth decay is undeniable, with children living in lower income areas twice as likely to have tooth decay as their wealthier peers.

The NHS recommends that under-18s visit the dentist at least once a year, as their teeth can rot more quickly than adults. (Stock photo)

Researchers estimated the number of children who had not visited a dentist in the year to March 2024, using official population data and NHS statistics. (Stock photo)

This is completely unacceptable in one of the richest countries in the world.

‘Pediatricians regularly see children with poor oral health, which manifests itself in persistent pain, infections, altered sleep and eating patterns, and decreased well-being.

‘Poor oral health in childhood also increases the risk of dental problems in adulthood, such as tooth loss and chronic gum disease. These conditions have even been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

‘Our dental colleagues are doing their best to meet the demand, but without further support we cannot make meaningful progress.

‘We want to encourage good oral hygiene habits by introducing supervised tooth brushing programs in all daycare centers and primary schools. We also want all children to be seen by a dentist from the age of one.

‘Adequate staffing and funding are also essential if we are to improve the health of our country.’

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: ‘It is unacceptable that too many people, including children, are unable to access the dental care they need.

‘That’s why rebuilding NHS dentistry is a priority for this government.

‘We are starting with 700,000 extra emergency dental appointments to help those who need it most, and reforming the dental contract to encourage more dentists to offer NHS services to patients.

‘Prevention is better than cure, which is why we are also going to introduce supervised toothbrushing for three to five year olds in the most deprived communities.’