BSPD and BDA respond to report on 3yr olds
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- Published: Sunday, 29 November -0001 23:58
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The British Society of Paediatric Dentistry (BSPD) has welcomed the oral health survey of 3-year-olds. Claire Stevens, a Consultant in Paediatric Dentistry said: “While the majority of pre-school age children in England are dentally healthy, there are still thousands of children as young as three who are undergoing multiple extractions under a general anaesthetic due to a disease that is entirely preventable.”
The BDA has also responded. Dr Christopher Allen, Chair of the its Dental Public Health Committee, said: “As tooth decay is largely preventable, parents, nurseries, retailers, governments and dental professionals must all play their part to reduce, if not eliminate, this disease. Parents and carers may feel that giving sugar-sweetened drinks is comforting, but in reality it’s more likely to cause pain and suffering as it is the major cause of tooth decay in toddlers. Worse still, thousands of these youngsters end up having to be admitted to hospital to have rotten teeth extracted under general anaesthetic.
“Prevention and education are the key to tackling this disease with parents leading by example. It’s never too soon to take your toddler to the dentist – ideally no later than 18 months – because dentists can identify and treat tooth decay at the earliest stage and advise parents on tooth brushing and prevention. But government also has a major responsibility to invest in prevention. From sugar controls at check-outs to targeted oral health interventions, we must find ways of ensuring good oral health from an early age.
“This survey testifies to the effectiveness of water fluoridation as an important and safe measure in reducing the gap between children with the best and worst dental health. Until we see the political will to end this scandal, governments will keep footing the bill for preventable treatment and very young children will continue to suffer unnecessary pain and undergo traumatic hospital procedures.”
Returning to the BSPD response spokesperson Claire Stevens said: “By the age of 3, children should have all of their 20 primary teeth. What this survey does is provide a baseline for the future and highlights the public health challenge facing local authorities who commission services in their area.”
One of the most worrying aspects of the survey, she said, was the scale of regional variation. In some areas of England there is very little visible caries in nursery-age children whereas in other areas 1 in 3 children have visible decay. The parts of the country where dental decay is worst is the East Midlands – in Leicester 34% of children had visible decay – followed by the North West, London, Yorkshire and Humber.
Stephen Fayle, Consultant in Paediatric Dentistry in Leeds, one of the areas where dental caries in 3-year-olds is above average said: “This survey shows that dental decay in many children is starting early in their life. Tooth decay in toddlers can potentially lead to pain and infection and affect eating and sleeping. A national average of 12% represents thousands of children, some of whom face long waits to see a specialist.”
Claire Stevens continued: “Figures show that 70,000 children and young people up to the age of 16 were admitted to hospitals in England in 2012/13 for extractions due to dental decay. This latest survey from Public Health England tells us that the decay is often well established at an early age. We know that preventive messages aimed at schools and school age children are important but this survey shows us that it is vital to reach families when their children are still little, especially those that are not accessing general dental care.”
“BSPD endorses the advice being provided by Public Health England and also contained in the Delivering Better Oral Health Toolkit, evidence-based guidance for the dental profession. We are keen to work with other healthcare professionals, such as health visitors, district nurses and school nurses to get important preventive advice to parents at an early stage. One of the main reasons young children are having teeth extracted is because they have been given sweetened drinks or juices in a bottle and this results in prolonged and pernicious exposure to sugar. A liking for sugar or even addiction to the taste is being established at an early age with implications for health and obesity too.”
“Unfortunately,” Claire continued, “once a child has extensive decay, a hospital operation to remove the diseased and painful teeth is often the most realistic way forward. It’s a traumatic experience for parents who witness their child recovering from an anaesthetic following the loss of baby teeth. We are delighted that this year we have already met the Chief Dental Officer for England, Barry Cockcroft, this and have a further meeting scheduled with him as well as with the Chief Dental Officers in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. By working together in the interests of patients we hope we can very soon see progress in the dental health of children and young people.”
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