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Addressing childhood health and development inequities through early oral health interventions in the Southwest of England

BDJ Student volume 33, pages 12–15 (2026)Cite this article

Dental decay is largely preventable, yet alarmingly by age five, 26.9%1 of children in England show visible signs of decay, often extending into the dentine and causing pain that requires treatment. Despite decades of oral health campaigns, significant disparities in oral health persist, particularly in communities experiencing socio-economic deprivation. These inequalities are reflected not only in oral health outcomes but also in the broader impacts on child development, well-being and educational outcomes.

Beyond the prevalence and inequality of dental decay, treating affected children also presents practical challenges. Effectively gaining cooperation from young children during treatment can be challenging for general dental practitioners, and this difficulty can increase when multiple teeth require treatment. On average, children with decay experience have 3.5 affected teeth.1 which often necessitates referral for extractions under General Anaesthetic (GA). Decay-related extractions under GA are the leading cause of hospital admissions for children aged 5 to 9, with 18,525 children undergoing such procedures in 2024, costing the NHS £45.8 million.2 Beyond the financial burden, GA carries risks of complications and mortality, underscoring the urgent need to prioritise preventive care in early childhood to reduce dental disease and limit invasive treatments.

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References

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  1. University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK

    Emily Rew & Isabel Clark

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  1. Emily Rew
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  2. Isabel Clark
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Rew, E., Clark, I. Addressing childhood health and development inequities through early oral health interventions in the Southwest of England. BDJ Student 33, 12–15 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41406-025-1548-2

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