New NHS England figures have highlighted the continuing impact of tooth decay on children, with 21,787 children aged 5–9 admitted to hospital because of tooth decay in 2025/26.
Tooth decay was the leading cause of hospital admission among children in this age group, with almost twice as many admissions as the next most common cause, acute tonsillitis, which accounted for 11,511 admissions.
Access to NHS dentistry also remains a challenge. In the 12 months to March 2026, 60% of children in England were seen by an NHS dentist. In Devon, this fell to 50.3%, while in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly it was 51.1%. (NHS Dental Statistics for England)
For PDSE, these figures reinforce the importance of reducing barriers to dental care and combining access with early intervention and prevention.
During the 2025/26 academic year, PDSE provided more than 7,000 paediatric dental appointments to patients between birth and the age of 16 who were not registered with a dentist, a 13% increase from the previous year.
However, improving access isn’t simply about providing more appointments. For some children and families, delivering dental care and oral health education within their local communities can help remove barriers to accessing care.
Through our Open Wide and Step Inside programme, our Dental Outreach Team reached 10,570 children across 287 primary schools in Devon, helping children learn about their teeth, oral hygiene and healthy choices.
The programme brings oral health education directly into school settings, helping children develop positive habits from an early age and providing resources to support toothbrushing at home. Find out more about the programme here: Open Wide and Step Inside Programme Continues to Improve Children’s Oral Health Across Devon
PDSE also provides dedicated dental services for children who may face additional barriers to accessing care. During the year, our Children in Care clinic provided 345 appointments for children in care and care leavers.
PDSE also works in partnership with Smile Together and promotes oral health in Cornwall through the Smarter Smiles initiative, with PDSE leading delivery in the east of the county. The programme aims to tackle preventable tooth decay in Cornish communities, including children and adults with special needs, people experiencing homelessness, and those from ethnic minority backgrounds. Throughout the year, PDSE delivered fluoride varnish application and oral health education sessions in 15 primary schools.
Across the year, PDSE also attended a range of community events and family activities, including Fit and Fed sessions, Barnardo’s summer fundays, Help for Heroes events, and local health and wellbeing events. These activities provided opportunities to promote key oral health messages through engaging activities, distribute toothbrushes and oral health resources, and support families to develop good oral health habits at home. Collectively, the events engaged with more than 4,000 families, and PDSE distributed more than 3000 toothbrush and toothpaste packs. Find out more about the work of our Dental Outreach Team here.
Rob Witton, PDSE Chief Executive Officer, commented: “The latest figures demonstrate why early access and prevention need to work together. Our teams are supporting children through dental care while also looking at different ways to reduce barriers to accessing that care, including delivering services and education in community and school settings. By helping children and families develop positive oral health habits from an early age, we can support better oral health in the longer term.”
This year, PDSE has further expanded its paediatric services, including a new therapist-led paediatric dental service and participation in the national Dental Check By 1 campaign. These services aim to increase access to care and support families in establishing healthy oral health routines from an early age.
We’re currently accepting registrations for children aged 18 months and under for our Dental Check By 1 appointments at our Devonport facility. Find out more about the service and how to register here.
