Thread by @sarahRbakerDPH

2022 official statistics update from @OHID

#Dental health of 5 year old children in England

One third of 5 yr olds have tooth decay (29.3%)

Those in the most deprived areas of England are 2.5 times more likely to have decay than in the least deprived (35.1% Vs 13.5%)

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From 2008 to 2017 there was a clear trend of significant improvement in the prevalence of tooth decay in 5 year olds in England (from 30.9% to 23.3%)

**There have been no further significant improvements in oral health since 2017**

#dentistry #Health #oralhealth

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#Oralhealth inequalities have previously been highlighted as a #publichealth problem

There is a positive association between decay experience and deprivation, as deprivation increases so does decay experience

#inequality #dentistry

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The gradient in the difference of prevalence of a disease across people living in the most & least deprived areas is called the slope index of #inequality

This slope is a measure of absolute inequalities and for tooth decay of 5 year olds in 2022 was 27.7%

#dentistry

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The slope index of inequality can be used to describe changes in inequalities over time

The absolute inequalities in tooth decay prevalence in 5 year olds reduced from 2008 to 2015 **but** there have been no further reductions in inequalities since then

@bspduk @bascd_uk

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The prevalence of tooth decay in 5 year olds varies by ethnic group being significantly higher in the other ethnic group (44.8%) and the Asian or Asian British ethnic group (37.7%) than for other groups

#dentistry #ethnicity #race #inequality

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There are marked regional differences with the North West having the highest prevalence of tooth decay in 5 year old children (38.7%)

#dentistry #Health #inequality #publichealth #NHS #Children #LevelUp

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There is marked variation at upper-tier local authority level with a high children's tooth decay prevalence ranging from 46.0% (Brent) to 9.7% (Brighton and Hove)

At lower-tier local authority level, the highest prevalence is in Leicester

@bascd_uk @bspduk @OHID @TheBDA

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The proportion of teeth with tooth decay that had been filled (the Care Index) was 7.4% across England

This varies regionally from 3.8% in the North West to 12.9% in London

*Interesting: Why do 5 year olds have more teeth filled in some regions?

@bspduk #dentistry

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The proportion of teeth that had been extracted due to tooth decay is 6.4%

*Note: the extraction of teeth in young children usually involves admission to hospital & a general anaesthetic

Huge variation in extraction rates from 3.9% (South East) to 13.4% (North East) - WHY?

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Good #oralhealth is fundamental to ensure general health & wellbeing

Poor oral health in young children can result in pain, infection, difficulties with eating, sleeping, playing & socialising

#Dental decay is also the commonest cause of hospital admission in young children

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There are also significant costs on society associated with oral diseases, not least the costs of hospital admissions for tooth extractions.

These impacts & costs are mostly avoidable as dental decay is a largely preventable disease.

#dentistry #Health @bspduk @OHID

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Information from @OHID surveys is vital to inform #oralhealth needs assessments at a local level

NHS & local authority commissioners should use the information when planning and evaluating local health services and health improvement interventions.

@ADPHUK #dentistry #NHS

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Note:
This is the 6th in the @OHID series of surveys on #Dental health of 5 yr old children in England

It includes estimates from 132 upper-tier & 234 (from 309) lower-tier local authorities

With 62,649 children included in the analysis (9.1% of the popn of this age cohort)

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Methods note: The survey was undertaken during the 2021 to 2022 school year according to a national protocol @bascd_uk

It includes 2 (visually observed) measures of tooth decay:
1. Decay into dentine (dentinal decay)
2. Decay confined to the tooth enamel (enamel decay)

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gov.uk/government/sta…

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@bascd_uk @OHID @TheBDA @ADPHUK