Rising Child Tooth Extractions Signal Urgent Need for Prevention, Says Denplan

New figures revealing a rise in the number of children in England undergoing hospital tooth extractions due to decay have prompted renewed calls for urgent reform and a stronger focus on prevention within the dental sector.

Responding to the latest data, Lianne Scott-Munden, Clinical Quality, Complaints and Risk Manager at Denplan, warned that preventable dental disease continues to place significant strain on both families and the NHS.

"These findings highlight the scale of the challenge faced by both patients and the dentistry sector across the country," she said. "Preventable dental disease continues to cost the NHS millions each year, and more importantly, it is harming children and leaving them vulnerable to long-term dental and wider health problems."

Hospital extractions remain one of the most common reasons for child hospital admissions in England, with decay largely preventable through good oral hygiene and regular dental care.

Scott-Munden stressed that early education is critical to reversing the trend. She pointed to BrightBites, a school-based initiative supported by health provider Simplyhealth, which teaches children effective toothbrushing techniques and promotes lifelong dental hygiene habits.

"Regular and proper toothbrushing is a vital skill that must be taught from a young age," she said. "Initiatives such as BrightBites, which is helping thousands of children across the country to develop healthy dental habits, demonstrate the real impact that prevention-focused programmes can have."

However, she cautioned that prevention alone is not enough if access to treatment remains uneven. Despite existing programmes, the number of extractions among those aged up to 19 continues to rise.

Scott-Munden called for "urgent and meaningful reform" that better reflects how the dental sector operates, while supporting both patients and practitioners and embedding prevention at its core.

She also highlighted stark inequalities in oral health outcomes. Young people living in the most deprived communities are more than three times more likely to have a tooth extracted due to decay than their peers in more affluent areas, underscoring persistent barriers to care.

"Ensuring nationwide access to suitable dental care and removing the barriers that prevent everyday people from receiving timely, frequent treatment is vital," she said. "Policymakers, dental professionals and the wider healthcare system must continue to champion long-term, prevention-led solutions that improve oral health outcomes for everyone."

The latest figures are likely to intensify debate over NHS dental reform, with campaigners and industry leaders alike warning that without decisive action, preventable dental disease will continue to affect thousands of children each year.