DOZENS of children were taken to hospital in Warrington last year to remove rotting teeth.

New figures from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities show there were an estimated 110 total hospital admissions in Warrington for children's tooth extraction in the year to March 2023.

Of these, about 60 were extractions for tooth decay. The numbers are rounded to the nearest five.

Overall, the rate of tooth extractions in Warrington was 233 per 100,000 children – below the national rate of 360 per 100,000.

David Fothergill, chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, said of national statistics: "These stark figures reveal that a lack of access to affordable dentistry is having a worrying impact on the state of children’s teeth.

"The fact that, due to the severity of the decay, on average 119 operations are taking place each day to remove decaying teeth in children and teenagers is concerning and also adds to current pressures on our health service.

"Untreated dental care remains one of the most prevalent diseases affecting children and young people’s ability to speak, eat, play and socialise."

Separately, figures from the Government's annual Oral Health Survey of year 6 children showed 16.2% had experienced tooth decay, with those impacted experiencing decay in at least two teeth on average.

In Warrington, about 18.7% of 10 to 11 year olds had experienced tooth decay.

Eddie Crouch, chairman of the British Dental Association, said ministers have "failed to grasp that decay and deprivation go hand in hand".

He said: "This Government likes to talk about prevention but has offered nothing. It has promised access for all but looks set to just throw money at target seats in rural England.

"Our youngest patients are continuing to pay the price."

Dr Helen Stewart, officer for health improvement at the RCPCH, added the state of children’s oral health in England is "nothing short of egregious".

She said the link between deprivation and decay is "undeniable", as children living in lower-income areas were more than twice as likely to have tooth decay than their more affluent peers.