New figures show there were nearly 43,000 hospital operations to remove teeth in children and teenagers last year – equating to 170 a day – prompting local Liberal Democrats to call for urgent action to tackle sugar. The worrying figures – up by nearly a fifth in the past four years – are, in most cases, likely to reflect the excessive consumption of sugary food and drink, as well as poor oral hygiene.
The figures, made public by the Local Government Association, shows there were 42,911 extractions of multiple teeth in under 18s in England in 2016/17 at a cost of £36.2 million, according to new NHS spending data. This is a 17 per cent increase on the 36,833 in 2012/13. The total cost to the NHS of these operations since 2012 is £165 million. The severity of the tooth decay means that the treatment has to be undertaken in a hospital under general anaesthetic, rather than a dentist.
Councils, which have responsibility for public health, have long called for the Government to implement measures to reduce sugar intake, such as reducing the amount in soft drinks and introducing teaspoon labelling on food packaging. The Local Government Association is also calling for councils to have a say in deciding where the revenue from the soft drinks levy – due to be introduced in April – is spent.
Local Liberal Democrat Campaigner [YOUR NAME] said:
“These figures, which have risen sharply, show that we have an oral health crisis and highlight the damage that excessive sugar intake is doing to young people’s teeth.
“The fact that, due to the severity of the decay, 170 operations a day to remove teeth in children and teenagers have to be done in a hospital is alarming and also adds to current pressures on the NHS.
“This concerning trend shows there is an urgent need to introduce measures to curb our sugar addiction which is causing children’s teeth to rot.
“There must be a reinvestment in innovative oral health education so that parents and children understand the impact of sugar on teeth and the importance of a good oral hygiene regime.
“Untreated dental care remains one of the most prevalent diseases affecting children and young people’s ability to speak, eat, play and socialise.
“These figures also highlight how regular check-ups at a dentist can help prevent tooth decay and the need for hospital treatment.”
NOTES TO EDITORS:
1. LGA/Public Health England publication, “Tackling poor oral health in children: local government’s public health role”, can be viewed here.
2. Data on multiple tooth extractions in under 18s can be found in the latest NHS reference costs (click on “Total HRGs” tab):
- 2016/17 – 42,911 extractions, costing £36,225,245 (row 358)
- 2015/16 – 40,800 extractions, costing £35,622,696 (row 355)
- 2014/15 – 40,970 extractions, costing £35,299,504 (row 355)
- 2013/14 – 39,175 extractions, costing £30,926,165 (row 324)
- 2012/13 – 36,833 extractions, costing £27,264,657 (row 270)
3. Calculation of 170 operations a day based on dividing 42,911 by number of working days in both 2016 and 2017, which was 252. Elective procedures to remove teeth in hospitals almost invariably take place on working days.
4. Youngsters in the UK are the biggest soft drinkers in Europe – with 40 per cent of 11 to 15-year-olds drinking sugary drinks at least once a day.
5. Children aged 11-18 get 40 per cent of their added sugars from soft drinks, according to the British Dental Association.
ENDS