Something to smile about – children's teeth best on record

Published on Tuesday 8 June 2010 22:44

THE teeth of Scotland's primary school children are healthier than ever before, with almost two-thirds of 11-year-olds showing no signs of dental decay.

When the country is taken as a whole, primary school children have achieved the Scottish Government's target to ensure that 60 per cent of them have no signs of obvious decay in their second set of teeth by this year.

A study by the 2009 National Dental Inspection Programme (NDIP) found that 64 per cent of primary seven pupils do not have tooth decay – the healthiest level ever recorded.

However, the study, based on series of inspections, found a mixed picture across the country, with some NHS board areas failing to meet the government's target and others achieving it comfortably.

In the Western Isles, just 55.5 per cent of primary seven children showed no signs of decay.

Decay was defined as dental decay that had penetrated the child's dentine – the protective layer surrounding the tooth.

Other health board areas to fall below 60 per cent were: Lanarkshire (57.2 per cent); Greater Glasgow and Clyde (58.5 per cent) and Dumfries and Galloway (57.8 per cent).

In contrast, Shetland achieved a decay-free level of 79.2 per cent.

Other areas to meet the target were: Ayrshire and Arran (70.4 per cent); Borders (70.9 per cent); Fife (67.2 per cent); Forth Valley (68.7 per cent) Grampian (63.7 per cent); Highland (66.8 per cent); Lothian (66.4 per cent); Orkney (67.9 per cent) and Tayside (67.0 per cent).

Ross Finnie, the Lib Dem health spokesman, expressed concern that more than one third of children had evidence of decay.

"Regular brushing and check ups at the dentist can save children from a lifetime of dental misery," he said.

"While it is good that the government have reached their target, it means that 36 per cent of children have tooth decay, which is an unacceptable figure.

"With a massive disparity in the numbers of dentists across Scotland, especially in rural areas, the government must ensure that all people in Scotland have equal access to the dentist.

But Shona Robison, the minister for public health, said she was greatly encouraged by the results of the survey, which showed that the overall percentage of 11-year-olds without decay had risen from 52.9 per cent in 2005 when records began to 63.5 per cent last year.

"Dental health in Scotland is improving, particularly in deprived communities, and this is a trend that we want to continue," Ms Robison said.

The Scottish Government said that the reduction of decay had been helped by a series of initiatives that had begun in 2005 with an action plan to improve oral health that included supervised teeth-brushing in primary one and two.

That had been helped by healthier tuckshops in schools and better attendance at the dentist.

More recently there has been the introduction of "Childsmile Practice", which promotes oral health from birth.

Parents of newborn children who are assessed to be at risk of developing tooth decay are referred to the programme by their health visitor.

Children at nursery, who would benefit from additional preventive care, are also being targeted receiving twice-yearly fluoride varnish.

Several of the health boards had nursery toothbrushing in place for some years and this had been credited for much of the improvement.