While tooth decay in five-year-olds in Wales has declined by more than 10 per cent since 2008, thanks in part to the programme, progress remains slow, and Welsh children’s oral health still lags significantly behind their English counterparts. Dental decay is present in 35.4 per cent of five-year olds in Wales.
BDA Wales has also expressed profound concerns that the current refocusing of Designed to Smile on under-fives has meant substantially redeploying a static budget away from older children. It understands several health boards have already stopped delivering fluoride varnish applications for six-to-seven-year olds through the scheme. Many such children do not have the option of seeing a high street dentist – 33 per cent of children in Wales haven't seen a dentist in the last two years.
Lead dentists have called for increased resources given the significant returns on investment these schemes generate through lower treatment costs, and for urgent action to address a mounting access crisis.
BDA research undertaken in April 2019 found only 27 per cent (96 out of 355) practices were taking on new child NHS patients.
Lauren Harrhy, Deputy Chair of the BDA’s Welsh General Dental Practice Committee, said, “Designed to Smile has made significant inroads, but the Welsh Government cannot rest on its laurels.
“Tooth decay remains the number one reason for hospital admissions among our children. Yes, we’re playing catch-up, but we still lag behind England in terms of oral health.
“This scheme shows prevention works. So, we need real investment from Ministers, not penny pinching, and a willingness to act on a crisis that’s left barely a quarter of NHS practices taking on new child patients.”