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Dept of Health

Answer

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which primary care trusts/groups have met the national target for tooth decay in children. [50605] Ms Blears: There are two national targets for tooth decay in children aged five years. (a) A reduction in the average number of decayed, missing or filled teeth (dmft) to 1.0 teeth by the year 2003. (b) An increase in the proportion of children with no caries experience to 70 per cent. by the year 2003. The British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry carries out a survey on dental caries experience of five-year-old children every two years. The latest survey is for 1999-2000. The health authorities in England who have met either or both of the national targets for the year 2003 by 1999-2000 is shown in the table. Information is not available by primary care trust or primary care groups. Health authorities already meeting tooth decay targets for 2003 by 1999-2000 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Target 1 Target 2 Health authority Average number of decayed, missing and Percentage of children with no caries filled teeth (dmft more than 1.0) experience Solihull 0.58 77.2 Dudley 0.59 78.3 Kingston and Richmond 0.66 78.8 Warwickshire 0.70 74.0 Worcestershire 0.71 76.4 South Staffordshire 0.72 73.6 Lincolnshire 0.74 75.2 West Kent 0.78 70.5 Bromley 0.78 75.5 Walsall 0.81 72.5 North and Mid Hampshire 0.83 74.6 North Essex 0.84 72.5 Suffolk 0.87 71.4 Sandwell{1} 0.89 66.0 Croydon 0.90 72.3 East Surrey 0.91 71.5 East Sussex, Brighton and Hove 0.91 74.1 Buckinghamshire 0.92 73.9 South Essex 0.92 71.1 Dorset 0.95 72.4 Birmingham{1} 0.97 68.4 Coventry{1} 0.97 68.7 East Kent 0.98 71.8 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. {1} Health authority has met target 1 but not met target 2.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

384 c355-6W; 50605

Session

2001-02

Subjects

Children Health authorities Primary care trusts Primary care groups Standards Dental health

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk