UK - Hull - 600 children, as young as two, have had rotting teeth pulled out

By Hull Daily Mail  |  Posted: June 05, 2015

By Allison Coggan

ALMOST 600 children in East Yorkshire have had rotting teeth removed under general anaesthetic in the past year.

A report by Teeth Team has revealed 579 children, including 15 two-year-olds and 112 youngsters aged five, have undergone general anaesthetics, at a cost of £416,000.

The two-year-olds had to undergo "multiple extractions" caused by tooth decay as parents persist on giving babies and toddlers bottles filled with fruit juice and sugary drinks despite the damage to teeth.

Now, Teeth Team is calling for the introduction of fluoride varnish targeted at children aged three to 11 in Hull's most deprived areas to be included in the oral health plan currently under consideration by Hull City Council.

Chris Groombridge, chairman of Teeth Team, said: "Extractions under general anaesthetic is an expensive treatment with high levels of emotional and physical distress for the children and the parents and is not without risk to life. We believe fluoride varnish has to be part of the oral health plan.

"Our report is fully costed, evidence-based and is a local plan. We do hope the council will take note and will act positively."

More than 43 per cent of five-year-olds in Hull have tooth decay compared with the national average of 27.9 per cent.

Teeth Team, originally known as the Brush Bus Partnership, was set up in 2010 to address alarming rates of tooth decay among Hull's children, who have the sixth worst rates of decay in Yorkshire.

Run by 543 Dental Centre, AyerDental and East Hull Dental Centre with three dental supply companies, the team helps almost 9,000 children at nurseries, primary and secondary schools and is hoping to expand its work to reach more children.

'Oral health is a priority'

Tim Fielding, city manager for health and wellbeing, says: "We broadly support the findings of the Teeth Team report and the valuable work they do in tackling and raising oral health issues, but it is important to note the figures include children from outside Hull who are accessing services.

"The improvement of oral health is a key priority and the Draft Oral Health Plan sets out detailed measures we will take to achieve this. Tooth varnishing is among the preventative practices identified in the plan and exploring the potential to undertake a community varnish programme is highlighted as a priority.

"Work is already ongoing across the city to improve infant feeding practices, tackle underlying bottle culture and increase breastfeeding rates."