5.3 Million Children in England Miss Annual NHS Dental Check-Ups

New data reveals nearly half of children have not seen an NHS dentist in the past year, prompting calls for urgent reforms.

House of Commons Library estimates show that 44.6% of children in England missed their annual NHS dental check-up in the year to March 2024.
Areas with the highest number of children missing dental appointments include Hackney, where almost two-thirds have not seen a dentist.
Tooth decay remains the leading cause of hospital admissions for children aged six to ten, emphasizing the need for regular dental visits.
Labour's Health Secretary Wes Streeting has pledged to address the issue with 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and reforms to the dental contract.
The Liberal Democrats have called the situation a 'scandal' and are advocating for an emergency dental registration scheme for children.