There are early signs that dentists in England are seeing more children and providing more preventative treatments according to the latest NHS dental statistics for England.1

Although the increase in dental attendances in under 18s is under one per cent compared to the previous year (41.4% compared to 41%), it is worth acknowledging that thousands more children have seen a dentist, says Claire Stevens, spokesperson for the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry.

The figures show that more than 50% of children had fluoride varnish treatments which will protect their teeth and reduce the risk of dental decay in the future.

She added: 'Fluoride varnish treatments are one of a range of measures advocated by Public Health England which are essential if we are to bring down decay levels. We want to see a continuing reduction in the sugar content of food drink, tooth brushing schemes in nurseries and schools across the country and implementation of community water fluoridation in areas of high need.

'Unless we focus our efforts on the most deprived communities, we run a risk that dental health inequalities are widened. Improved attendance is welcome but the acid test will be whether in the years ahead there is a reduction in children who need to see us for multiple extractions under general anaesthetic.

'I am hopeful that the ongoing impact of our Dental Check by One campaign as well as the recommendations in the newly published Green Paper will see the number of children seeing a dentist increase dramatically.'