Revealed: the state of our kids' teeth

More pre-schoolers are being hospitalised with dental disease including severe tooth decay than any other age group, and the rate of admissions in New Zealand for all age groups have grown significantly in the past 20 years.

Children aged 8 or under had the highest rate of admission to hospital for dental care with 3- and 4-year-olds requiring significantly more treatment than anyone else, according to a report published by the Ministry

of Health reviewing admission to hospitals for dental care between 1990 and 2009.

Between 2005 and 2009, 20.7 in every thousand children aged 3 to 4 years old were hospitalised for dental treatment, up from 17.8 in every thousand between 2000 and 2004. The number of 5- to 8-year-olds also rose to 12.7 in every thousand from 8.9 in every thousand during the same period.

The figures have alarmed health experts who say better access to dental care, greater access to fluoridated water, better diets and cleaning regimes would all contribute to improve dental health in early childhood. In New Zealand basic dental care is provided free to children under the age of 18.

Hawkes Bay District Health Board clinical director oral health services, Dr Robin Whyman, one of the report's authors, said children were admitted to hospitals because often it was easier and safer for younger children to be put under general anaesthesia to treat severe decay.

Dr Whyman said children needed to be seen by a community dental service earlier than the traditional practice where they were not seen before 2 years old.

Waikato District Health Board community oral health manager Diane Pevreal said lower decile schools generally had a higher rate of decay and poor dental health was often shown in family patterns. Maori and Pacific children tended to have poorer oral health and the report showed these groups had a higher rate of hospitalisation.

Hamilton dental therapist Jo McCaffrey, who has been in the industry for 35 years, said she felt the problem of tooth decay among pre-schoolers had got worse and said sugary drinks were a major culprit.

Ministry of Health chief dental officer Robyn Haisman-Welsh said reinvestment by the government in oral health since 2008 to fund fixed and mobile dental clinics had the potential to slow or reverse the trend of more children having severe dental issues. The aim of the $116 million capital investment was to promote earlier enrolment.


Keeping them clean

Brush teeth for two minutes twice a day (after breakfast and dinner) with a fluoride toothpaste

Enrol with the dental service at nine months of age and have regular check-ups

Parents and health professionals "lift the lip" monthly and check children's teeth for any signs of decay

Children eat teeth-friendly, healthy foods low in sugar

Children drink water and milk rather than sugary acidic drinks

Source: Plunket Dental treatment in children, 2005-2009

Age/ Hospital admissions per thousand children

0-2/ 2.2

3-4/ 20.7

5-8/ 12.7

9-12/ 2.3

Source: Admissions to New Zealand Public Hospitals for Dental Care: A 20-year review


By Nikki Preston of the New Zealand Herald

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