Children living in deprived areas are three times more likely to need dental extractions in hospital

Researchers at Queen Mary University of London have found that children living in areas with high levels of deprivation are three times more likely to have severe tooth decay that requires a dental extraction in hospital, compared with children living in more affluent areas. The findings highlight an urgent need for equitable access to preventive dentistry. In the study, published in BMJ Public Health, researchers analyzed de-identified GP and hospital records for 600,000 children between the ages of five and 16 living in North East London. During the five-year study period, one in 200 children had at least one tooth Read More