Government Fail Child Tooth Target

2.44.06pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 30th Jun 2004

Figures from the Office for National Statistics out today show that the Government is failing its targets on the health of children's' milk teeth.

Attacking the Government over a 'missed opportunity' to tackle tooth decay at an early age, Paul Burstow MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary,

said:

"These worrying figures suggest that children are not getting the dental care they need. It's yet another sign of how far the Government has got to go to reverse the decline in NHS dentists.

"These missed targets represent a missed opportunity to tackle tooth decay early on and prevent problems getting worse. The situation is not helped by the shortage of dentists. Ministers talk about choice but yet for many hard pressed families the reality is that they can't find a dentist for love nor money.

"There must be more emphasis on oral health in the early years with health visitors and midwives having a key part to play delivering that message."