NHS dentists challenged to see 70,000 more pre-school children

NHSNHS England has challenged dentists to see an additional 70,000 pre-school children over the next year.

These calls have come in the hope that they will encourage young families to get into the habit of good dental health.

Latest figures show 140 children every day, some as young as one-year-old, have decayed teeth removed.

‘Taking pre-school children to the dentist can prevent the pain of tooth extractions,’ Sara Hurley, chief dental officer for England, said.

‘Regular visits to your dentist from a very early age, is key to developing habits that lead to a lifetime of good oral health.

‘The NHS is providing additional support to dentists to help them see more children, so that painful and distressing dental operations, later in life, can be reduced.’


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Starting Well

Around 10% of children under two have had their first dental check up, the NHS claims.

The Starting Well Core initiative, launched by NHS England includes additional support for the dental profession, including training materials and guidance for caring for your children, and a programme of communication to encourage the public to take up the offer of a ‘Dental Check By One’, for babies in the first year.

NHS England believes forming good dental health habits could prevent the need for future tooth extractions.

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