Fears lack of dental care to mean years of pain ahead
Children in the Black Country and Staffordshire had tens of thousands fewer dental treatments last year, figures reveal.
The British Dental Association (BDA) has warned it could take years to repair damage the Covid-19 crisis has caused to the dental health of young people across the country.
Patients aged under 18 in Wolverhampton were given just 23,035 courses of treatment in 2020, figures obtained from the NHS Business Services Authority through a Freedom of Information request show.
It was 59 per cent fewer than the 56,713 recorded the previous year. Children in Dudley had just 23,118 courses of treatment last year, compared to 60,910 the previous year – a drop of 62 per cent.
In Sandwell there was a drop of 60 per cent on the previous year, from 63,529 to 25,122 courses of treatment in 2020.
While in Walsall, 24,064 courses of treatment were carried out in 2020, compared to 56,948 the previous year – a drop of 58 per cent.
South Staffordshire saw a drop of 58 per cent – from 20,908 to 8,738 – and Cannock Chase saw a drop of 61 per cent – from 19,815 to 7,741.
And in Stafford, 11,274 courses of treatment were carried out on under 18s in 2020 – a drop of 57 per cent where 26,260 treatments were carried out in 2019.
Across England, children had 4.7 million courses of treatment last year, down from 11.6 million in 2019 – a drop of 59 per cent.
Damage
Eddie Crouch, chairman of the British Dental Association, said: “It may take years to undo the damage this pandemic has had on the oral health of our children.
“The kids facing the biggest challenges will be from our most deprived communities, and we now need all hands to the pumps to help them.”
The BDA recently criticised moves to impose targets on dental practices, saying they risk “devastating NHS dental services”.
Under the plans, it says those falling below 45 per cent of their pre-pandemic activity between January 1 and the end of March could face “steep financial penalties” by having to hand back a proportion of their NHS funding.
Mr Crouch added: “Sadly, ministers have chosen to focus on volume over need.
“They need to find a way forward that delivers for the kids that need us most, with tangible support for services, wedded to real commitment to prevention.”
