{"id":58918,"date":"2018-01-13T06:10:57","date_gmt":"2018-01-13T06:10:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bnreport.com\/hospital-operations-for-child-teeth-removal-increase-in-england\/"},"modified":"2018-01-13T06:10:57","modified_gmt":"2018-01-13T06:10:57","slug":"hospital-operations-for-child-teeth-removal-increase-in-england","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bnreport.com\/en\/hospital-operations-for-child-teeth-removal-increase-in-england\/","title":{"rendered":"Hospital operations for child teeth removal increase in England"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dentists have accused the government of having a "short-sighted" approach to tooth decay in England after hospital operations to remove children's teeth increased to nearly 43,000. <\/p>\n

There were 42,911 operations in 2016-17 \u2013 up from 40,800 the previous year and 36,833 in 2012-13, NHS figures show.<\/p>\n

The British Dental Association said England had a "second-class" dental service compared to Wales and Scotland.<\/p>\n

The government said it was "determined" to reduce the number of extractions.<\/p>\n

Doctors said many of the tooth extractions would be caused by the food and drink children consume and were therefore "completely preventable". <\/p>\n

'Startling' figures<\/h2>\n

An analysis of NHS figures by the Local Government Association, which represents councils in England and Wales, found the equivalent of 170 hospital tooth extractions a day were being carried out on under-18s. <\/p>\n

These are done under general anaesthetic, rather than by a dentist.<\/p>\n

The operations would have cost the NHS about \u00a336m last year and \u00a3165m since 2012, the LGA found.<\/p>\n

Mick Armstrong, chairman of the BDA, said: "These statistics are a badge of dishonour for health ministers, who have failed to confront a wholly preventable disease.<\/p>\n

"Tooth decay is the number one reason for child hospital admissions, but communities across England have been left hamstrung without resources or leadership."<\/p>\n

The BDA said England was receiving a "second-class service" because, unlike Wales and Scotland, it has no dedicated national child oral health programme. <\/p>\n

It said the government's centrepiece policy Starting Well \u2013 aimed at improving oral health outcomes for "high-risk" children \u2013 had received no new funding and was operating in parts of just 13 local authorities in England. <\/p>\n

"The BDA has insisted that national authorities must provide resources to enable all children in England to benefit," it said. <\/p>\n

Hospital tooth extractions for under-18s in England:<\/strong><\/p>\n