South Yorkshire has the “highest level of hospital tooth extractions” in England

Tooth decay issues among young children in England are “truly Dickensian”, a health minister said as he warned there is no overnight fix for dentistry.

Stephen Kinnock said the Government “inherited a mess” but is committed to reforming the dental contract and working with the British Dental Association (BDA) to focus on prevention and to retain NHS dentists.

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He also told MPs that a “staggering” 28% of the country has an unmet need for NHS dentistry, adding: “That’s 13 million people, so there are so many issues that we need to resolve.”

Data published by the NHS in September suggests that tooth decay remains the leading cause for hospital admissions among five to nine-year-olds in England.

Tooth decay issues among young children in England are “truly Dickensian”, a health minister said as he warned there is no overnight fix for dentistry.Tooth decay issues among young children in England are “truly Dickensian”, a health minister said as he warned there is no overnight fix for dentistry.
Tooth decay issues among young children in England are “truly Dickensian”, a health minister said as he warned there is no overnight fix for dentistry.

Some 19,381 children in this age bracket were admitted to hospital in 2023/24 because of tooth decay.

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Speaking at health questions in the Commons, Mr Kinnock told Labour MP Lee Pitcher: “The scale of the problem that he points out is massive.

“One of the most shocking statistics I discovered since I took up this position is the most common reason for children aged five to nine being admitted to hospital is for tooth decay.

“It is completely and utterly shocking, it is truly Dickensian.

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“We cannot fix this overnight therefore. We’re committed to reforming the dental contract, working with the BDA to focus on prevention and retention of NHS dentists.

“We’re also working at pace to ensure that patients can access 700,000 additional urgent dental appointments.”

Mr Pitcher, MP for Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme, said: “The horror stories I hear in my constituency are just awful.

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“From the mum who couldn’t find an NHS dentist after five years on the Isle of Axholme and carries out her own treatment to her son, to the gentleman whose teeth are crumbling due to illness – causing horrendous pain – who cannot get an appointment in Doncaster East.

“The Government’s pledge to provide more emergency appointments is great, but I know it’ll take time to rebuild dentistry.

“So can the minister reassure me that people in my constituency will be given the priority that they deserve?”

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Mr Kinnock said South Yorkshire has the “highest level of hospital tooth extractions” in England, adding: “I want to assure him that we will target interventions at areas of greatest need.

“For example, integrated care boards have started to advertise roles through our ‘golden hello’ scheme that will drive recruitment of graduate dentists to areas of greatest need for three years.

“We have inherited a mess and we’re working at pace to clear it up.”

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