Dental caries in children and the level of repeat general anaesthetics for dental extractions. a national disgrace

Approximately 46,500 children and young people under 19 years of age were admitted to hospital for general anaesthesia (GA) with a diagnosis of dental caries in England in 2013–14.1 In Scotland and Wales, the corresponding figures are 11,455 and 8,904, respectively.2^,3 This latter figure is 1.32% of children in Wales. These children suffer pain, miss schooling, and experience effects on body weight, growth and quality of life.4^,5^,6 Dental caries is the most common reason a child between five and nine years of age is admitted to hospital in both England and Scotland (30.9% of all GAs) and these figures are increasing year on year, as are the average numbers of teeth removed, according to RCS Eng.7 These admissions are clearly associated with very significant morbidity and are not without the risk of mortality.8^,9 The cost of these hospital admissions in England was £30 million in 2012–13.10