An enormous and unacceptable number of children is being admitted to hospital to treat preventable tooth decay, with most of them requiring general anaesthetic, Australian dentists say.
In Melbourne alone, 2700 children aged 0-6 years are admitted to hospital each year, according to new research presented at the Early Childhood Oral Health Research Symposium on Wednesday.
Professor Mike Morgan, Head of the Melbourne Dental School, says there is no reason to believe the figures would be dissimilar across all states.
He says one of the possible reasons behind the concerning number of hospital admissions is a lack of access to dental services in certain areas and fluoridated drinking water.
"We do know that the rates are higher in non-fluoridated areas, so areas without community water fluoridation in Victoria. We know that they are higher in the lower socio-economic groups within Victoria and so the possibility of expanding water fluoridation and other preventer activities is a way forward."
Professor Morgan says a lot more work needs to be done to prevent dental disease in children and the annual rate of hospital admissions is unacceptable.
"2700 children a year is an enormous number."
Looking at a child's diet is one important step parents can take to protect their child's teeth, advises Prof Morgan, who believes the onus doesn't just rest on mums and dads.
"We can also do things as a community to reduce the likelihood and obviously water fluoridation is something."
A child suffering in pain because of dental decay is not something any community should be accepting, says Prof Morgan.
"A child in pain because of dental decay is an awful thing first of all to suffer if you are that child, to have to witness it if you are that parent and then to treat if you are a dental care provider."
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