CONCERNS have been raised after figures showed there were hundreds of hospital admissions in Bradford to remove children's decaying teeth in the space of a year.
Data from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities reveals there were an estimated 655 total hospital admissions in Bradford for children's tooth extraction in the year to March 2023.
Of these, about 555 were extractions for tooth decay.
The numbers are rounded to the nearest five.
Overall, the rate of tooth extractions in Bradford was 421 per 100,000 children – above the national rate of 360 per 100,000.
The Government insisted "access to dentistry is improving" - but officials have expressed concerns about what has been described as "years of underinvestment" in the dental sector.
Oral health problems are 'urgent for people of all ages'
Councillor Sarah Ferriby, portfolio holder for healthy people and places on Bradford Council, said: "It's quite clear that oral health problems in our district are urgent for people of all ages - but the NHS is hampered by national dental contracts and the legacy of years of underinvestment.
"With many dentists only offering private care it has meant that we have seen 'dentistry deserts' in our district and this disproportionately affects low-income families.
"Our district's oral health team is working hard to do all it can to provide care to nurseries - for example, in areas where we know children are at most risk of dental decay - including fluoride varnishing and toothbrushing programmes.
"Public health, the NHS and the voluntary and community sector work well together to deliver this work.
"But we need to see a significant Government investment in public health and community oral health work as part of a wider package of reform if we are to solve this crisis.
"Oral health is a good indicator for people’s overall health - so without extra investment and an overhaul of the current system, we are just storing up problems for the future if we can't get people the care they need right now."
'Access to dentistry is improving'
According to the figures, there were a total of 47,581 tooth extractions for patients aged under across NHS hospitals in England in the year to March 2023.
Some 66 per cent of these extractions - or 31,165 - were down to a primary diagnosis of tooth decay, up 17 per cent from the previous 12 months.
David Fothergill, chair of the Local Government Association's community wellbeing board, said: "These stark figures reveal that a lack of access to affordable dentistry is having a worrying impact on the state of children's teeth.
"The fact that, due to the severity of the decay, on average 119 operations are taking place each day to remove decaying teeth in children and teenagers is concerning and also adds to current pressures on our health service.
"Untreated dental care remains one of the most prevalent diseases affecting children and young people's ability to speak, eat, play and socialise."
Separately, figures from the Government's annual Oral Health Survey of year six children showed 16.2 per cent had experienced tooth decay, with those impacted experiencing decay in at least two teeth on average.
In Bradford, around 26.8 per cent of 10 to 11-year-olds had experienced tooth decay.
Eddie Crouch, chair of the British Dental Association, said ministers have "failed to grasp that decay and deprivation go hand in hand".
He said: "This Government likes to talk about prevention but has offered nothing.
"It has promised access for all but looks set to just throw money at target seats in rural England.
"Our youngest patients are continuing to pay the price."
Dr Helen Stewart, officer for health improvement at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, described the state of children’s oral health in England is "nothing short of egregious".
Responding to the concerns, a Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "Access to dentistry is improving, and last year around 800,000 more children saw an NHS dentist."
They added that £3billion is invested each year to deliver NHS dentistry and plans have been announced to increase dental training places by 40 per cent.
"We are also taking preventative measures, such as expanding water fluoridation schemes to reduce the number of children experiencing tooth decay," the spokesperson said.
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