The British Dental Association (BDA) has blamed a ‘lack of political will to fix NHS dentistry’ after tooth decay remains the leading cause of hospital admissions among children aged five to nine years.
New NHS England data recorded 21,787 finished consultant episodes with dental caries as the primary diagnosis in this age group during 2025/26, up 3% from 2024/25. Acute tonsillitis was the second most common primary diagnosis, with 11,511 episodes attributed.
BDA chair Eddie Crouch said: ‘It shouldn’t be inevitable that tooth decay sends more young kids to hospital than any other condition.
‘Decay can and should be prevented, but instead of catching it early many thousands of children reach the point where they need extractions.’
Better access to NHS care
The figures follow repeated warnings about children’s access to NHS dentistry. NHS Business Services Authority data showed that 60% of children had seen an NHS dentist in the 12 months to 31 March 2026, leaving 40% without a recorded visit.
Separate government figures showed 56,143 hospital tooth extraction episodes among children and young people aged zero to 19 in the year ending 2025. Of these, 33,976 involved a primary diagnosis of tooth decay.
The BDA welcomed government measures including supervised toothbrushing and the planned ban on sales of high-caffeine energy drinks to under-16s. However, it said these policies must be accompanied by better access to NHS care.
Crouch added: ‘We cannot go on without a properly funded, functioning NHS dental service that gives children access to prevention and treatment before their problems become emergencies.’
Recent analysis found that progress on children’s oral health had stalled, with deprivation remaining closely linked to decay and hospital extractions.
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