MEP and QC Jim Allister today called on the Stormont Executive to address the Province-wide scandal of tooth decay reaching record high levels -- but with fewer dentists taking on NHS work.

Mr Allister said many people in Northern Ireland have found themselves cut out of the NHS dental care system because of a missed appointment or just because their dentist has retired or only takes on private fees-paying treatment.

For many, he said, it was impossible to even afford regular check-ups let alone expensive fillings or other repair work.

Mr Allister said dental standards across Northern Ireland had fallen.  Many people facing dental work had only one option -- to pay huge fees.

"I know many people who tell me they just cannot afford the treatment", he said.

He called on the Health Minister to publish full details of the crisis in dental care.

"Just what is happening with the Service and why", demanded Mr Allister.

Two weeks ago, it was revealed that up to 30,000 children a year are admitted to hospital for tooth decay and extraction — and the number is rising.

Experts said the data highlighted a “major public health issue” after they found a large increase in the number of children admitted since Labour came to power in 1997.

The peak age for needing a tooth extracted due to decay was five, the study published in the British Dental Journal found.
Hospital data from between 1997 and 2006 was analysed by researchers at Peninsula Dental School and University College London.
It revealed there were 517,885 individual courses of dental treatment in NHS hospitals for children up to the age of 17 between 1997 and 2006. The total number of children needing treatment was 470,113.