Paediatric dentistry in the UK: current challenges and possible solutions

Key points

• Limited access to NHS dentistry further exacerbates caries and oral health problems. There is a widening gap between the oral health of children in the least and most deprived areas of the UK and there is a need to guarantee free access for all children to attend an NHS dentist. However, there is reduced funding for oral health promotion and improvement strategies.

• Heightened anxiety means treatment can be difficult, particularly for those with complex dental problems.

• There are high rates of general anaesthetic for exodontia and treatment.

• There is a need to increase and incentivise GDPs to provide simple early interventions, such as silver diamine fluoride. There is also a need to invest in proven large-scale oral health schemes, such as water fluoridation and toothbrushing in schools.