The number of children’s teeth extractions carried out under general anaesthetic in hospital because of decay has tumbled to record lows, amid fears many are missing out on vital treatment.
The LGA said there was a drop of 55 per cent in the number of teeth extractions for those aged 0-19 during 2020/21 compared with the previous year, with around 35,000 fewer procedures taking place compared with previous years.
The data, published by the Office of Health Disparities and analysed by the LGA, also reveals that areas with high levels of deprivation have three times the number of tooth removals than those that are more affluent.
While councils are running good oral health programmes, they warn that the dramatic reduction in numbers indicates many procedures were delayed or cancelled because of the pandemic, with fewer people attending hospital.
Councils are calling for a full disclosure on waiting times for these procedures alongside a properly funded plan to address the backlog. They fear that tens of thousands of children are being left in pain as well as facing difficulties learning, eating, talking and sleeping.
The LGA is also urging government to recommit to measures to combat obesity and diet-related ill health.
Cllr David Fothergill, Chairman of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board, said: “Treatment and prevention are two sides to the same coin. The Government must recommit to vital measures to combat childhood obesity and diet-related ill health, such as the sugar levy that has helped cut down the consumption of drinks with high sugar content.”