PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Dental Health: Children (7 July 2016)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the long-term health costs associated with the increase in the number of dental extractions in children under the age of 10 in the last four years.

Asked by:
Judith Cummins (Labour)

The tables below shows 1) the number of courses of treatment (CoT) for children age 10 and under in Primary Dental Care which included an extraction and 2) the number of Finished Consultant Episodes (FCEs) for children aged 10 and under including an extraction due to tooth decay.

During the same period, the population for children age 10 and under rose from 6.9 million to 7.3 million. The figures suggest the total rise in extractions and therefore increases in health costs are broadly in line with the increase in population of this age group over the same period.

1)

Financial year	(CoT) Extractions per 100,000	Primary Care (CoT)	Population	change
2014/15	3211.0	234,704	7,309,300	-8,274
2013/14	3380.7	242,978	7,187,200	9,186
2012/13	3317.0	233,792	7,048,300	718
2011/12	3376.9	233,074	6,902,100

Source: NHS Business Services Authority, extract from FP17 form clinical data set information 2011/12 – 2014/15

2)

Financial year	FCE Extractions per 100,000	FCEs	Population	change
2014/15	462.2	33,781	7,309,300	1040
2013/14	455.5	32,741	7,187,200	1466
2012/13	443.7	31,275	7,048,300	514
2011/12	445.7	30,761	6,902,100

Source: Health and Social Care Information Centre, Hospital Episode Statistics 2011/12 – 2014/15

However, the Government is serious about improving oral health for children. Initiatives to improve oral health include targeted interventions in ten high needs areas and reform of the dental contract to focus on prevention.

Answered by:
Alistair Burt (Conservative)
13 July 2016