'We've had patients travel hundreds of miles': Crisis facing London children struggling to get dental care
Almost a quarter of five-year-olds show signs of dental decay
Last updated 7th May 2021
London dentists say a massive backlog of children needing treatment after lockdown has led to some families travelling miles for emergency appointments.
"They've not been sleeping, or seen their children not eating, and having antibiotics over and over again as a solution is really not the right thing. They're so desperate they travel wherever they can," says Dr Esther Shin, a dentist at Toothbeary, a private practice in Twickenham which has seen a 50% increase in new clients requesting bookings.
Some families, unable to get NHS appointments, are turning to private treatment.
"We're seeing the patients that are able to come to us, but there's a lot out there that haven't got that access," says dental therapist Daisy Wigan.
"It really shines a light on the fact that there really needs to be more of a plan for how the backlog is dealt with."
Figures suggest that a significant proportion of child have not seen a dentist since the start of the coronavirus pandemic - despite the NHS recommendation that children should visit a dentist at least once a year for a check up.
NHS dental attendance figures published in February show that 70% of children in England did not see an NHS dentist in the 12 months to 31 December 2020, the FDS said.
Mr Matthew Garrett, dean of the Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of England, told the PA news agency: "Tooth decay is almost completely preventable by reducing the frequency of sugary snacks and drinks, brushing regularly with a fluoride toothpaste and routine visits to the dentist.
"In a year that has seen visits to the dentist disrupted by the pandemic, it's even more important that we take steps to protect children's teeth at home, and at school.
"There is a clear link between how often we consume sugar and the amount of tooth decay we suffer.
Meanwhile, a report from Public Health England published in March which details the oral health of five year olds in England in 2019, show that almost a quarter (23.4%) showed signs of dental decay.
And analysis of official data from the Local Government Association, published in August last year, suggests that 45,000 hospital operations took place to remove rotten teeth in children and teenagers in England in 2018/19 - equating to 177 a day.
A spokesperson for the NHS in London said:
“Dentists have been prioritising treatment for those patients in urgent need and those with highest clinical need, including children, in part through the rapid establishment of 42 urgent dental centres across London however, strict infection control rules needed to keep patients and dental teams safe during Covid-19 have meant service throughput has been reduced over the pandemic period.
“Activity is increasing steadily and we are supporting dentists to see as many patients as safely possible – anyone with concerns should get in touch with their local dentist as they usually would for further advice or seek advice from NHS 111.”