RCPCH responds to new FDS position statement on children's oral health

The statement from the Faculty of Dental Surgery (FDS) welcomes a number of measures announced in the Prevention Green Paper and Childhood Obesity Plan that will help to improve children's oral health, but highlights the importance of maintaining a focus on addressing the issue. RCPCH President responds.

There have been over 100,000 hospital admissions for children under the age of 10 due to tooth decay since 2015. This is despite the condition being almost entirely preventable.

Responding to publication of a new position statement by the Faculty of Dental Surgery (FDS) at the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS), Professor Russell Viner, President of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) said:

We know that tooth decay is the most common reason why children aged five to nine require admission to hospital. Treating it often means extracting the decayed tooth and this is not cheap, costing the NHS around £50m for those under the age of 19. Tooth decay is preventable and this new analysis sets out a range of actions to help improve the state of children’s teeth.

Coordinated, targeted interventions that also address the postcode lottery in children’s oral health will make a difference.