New statistics show that decades of improving dental health in children has come to a halt.Since 1999 the average child has 1.5 rotten teeth but in several towns and major cities the incidence is twice as high.The latest figures show that a quarter of children starting school have at least two teeth that are decayed missing or filled.Those living in Blackburn, Manchester, Nottingham and Knowsley fare the worst with the figure of three rotten teeth by the age of five.There are nearly one million people fewer attending for regular dental appointments since the introduction of the new NHS dental contract and the latest figures show that only 54% of people have attended a dentist under the NHS in the last two years.The shadow health minister Mike Penning believes that there has been too little attention paid to the maintenance of good oral hygiene and he believes the position will worsen over the next decade.

Comment from Doctor Dental

The latest statistics are a reflection of a predictable deterioration in the dental state of children.Sadly there has been scant attention paid to the provision of a high quality preventive care service for children right from birth. A dramatic shortage of dental personnel and a move out of NHS practice has compounded the problems and the move towards local contracts without a priority focus on children's dental care has been the last straw that has broken the camel's back.