DOZENS of children in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole had decaying teeth removed in hospital during the first year of the coronavirus pandemic, new figures show.
The British Dental Association has urged the Government to address a growing backlog of dental care caused by Covid-19, with extractions across England plummeting by more than half.
Office for Health Improvement and Disparities figures show that around 50 children aged 19 or younger in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole had at least one tooth removed in hospital due to decay in 2020-21.
It meant around 58 in every 100,000 children in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole underwent a tooth extraction as a result of decaying teeth last year, up from 41 in 2019-20.
Sheffield had the highest rate of extractions due to decay, at 620 per 100,000, while Leicester had the lowest at 10.
The BDA warned the variation in teeth extraction rates highlights differing oral hygiene standards across the country, especially between deprived and affluent areas, and said the backlog caused by the pandemic will affect worse-off areas more.
The Department for Health and Social Care said it has provided £50 million to fund up to 350,00 additional NHS dental appointments.
It said dentists prioritised vulnerable groups throughout the pandemic and provided free care to the neediest groups, including pregnant women, young people and those on low-income benefits.
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