Alarming Rates of School Absence Linked to Poor Dental Health in Children

UK: New data from Denplan, a part of Simplyhealth, reveals that approximately one in nine children have missed school days in the past year due to dental issues, totalling over 15 million missed school days. 

The findings come from one of the largest UK dentistry surveys, involving over 5,000 adults, shedding light on concerning oral health trends among children.

Emergency Dental Treatment Impact

According to Denplan’s Oral Healthcare Report, over a quarter of parents whose children required emergency dental treatment reported that their child missed half-days (3-4 hours), with one in ten experiencing full school days missed. 

The impact of emergency dental issues on education underscores the importance of preventive oral healthcare measures.

A significant concern is that 25% of parents revealed that their children had not seen a dentist in the past year. Shockingly, one in 14 parents reported that their children had never seen a dentist or lacked a regular dentist. 

Dental professionals typically recommend early visits for children to provide guidance and assess their dental health as soon as teeth start to appear.

Nearly Half of England’s Children Missed Dentist Visits in 2022

Dental Health Concerns and Cavity Rates

The repercussions of inadequate dental care are evident in reported dental health concerns among children. Approximately one in six parents noted that their children had experienced tooth cavities, with around one in ten reporting multiple cavities. Cavities result from bacterial decay on the tooth’s surface and can lead to long-term damage if preventive measures are not taken.

Alarmingly, one in 20 parents reported that their child had been hospitalized for tooth extraction, now the leading cause of child hospital admissions in the UK. 

Rates of hospitalization in deprived communities were nearly 3.5 times higher than in affluent areas, indicating a stark healthcare inequality.

Denplan’s Initiative for Oral Health Education

Denplan has committed a £100,000 donation to its charity partner Dentaid, aiming to expand its oral health education program, BrightBites, to reach a minimum of 90,000 UK school-aged children. The initiative seeks to raise awareness about the importance of oral health, including diet, toothbrushing, and regular dental care.

Catherine Rutland, dentist and Clinical Director at Denplan and Simplyhealth, emphasized the urgent need for government prioritization of oral health. Rutland noted that the research should be considered in the context of the cost of living and ongoing challenges related to access to NHS dentistry.

Andy Evans, CEO of Dentaid, highlighted the significance of oral health education in addressing these issues and expressed the importance of collaboration to reform NHS contracts and ensure adequate dental care for children.

The data highlights a pressing need for comprehensive measures to address oral health disparities among children and promote preventive dental care initiatives.