Last year, over 3,000 children visited the Accident and Emergency department due to severe tooth decay, prompting the government to declare a “national scandal.” In response, lawmakers are calling for reform that will help citizens access dental care.

Government agencies in England have reported that the number of children who go to A&E for tooth decay has continually risen in recent years as a result of the former government’s national plan, which is now considered a failure. Some of these children have experienced tooth decay so severe that their parents used pliers to remove their children’s teeth. 

Government organizations argue that the healthcare plan should be revised so that people can visit the dentist at least once every two years.

The government hopes to recruit dentists in poorer regions where it is more difficult to get healthcare and where there are more children suffering from tooth decay through an incentive program. The issues facing healthcare providers and the government have persisted for many years. Despite a few efforts to improve the situation, much more remains to be done.

Dental care, like healthcare more broadly, is usually considered a human right. How can governments ensure that this right is provided to their citizens?

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