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KEY DATA 2021

Use of health services

Good outcomes for young people rely on youth friendly health services – from community based health promotion through to NHS inpatient care.

Around two thirds of year 10 pupils had visited the doctors in the last six months

Dental health

The data on children and young people’s dental health are dated. In England, for example, there has not been a Children’s Dental Health Survey since 2013 (HSCIC, 2015).  At that time a third of 12 year olds (34%) and nearly half of 15 year olds (46%) had decay in their permanent teeth. More than a quarter of 15 year olds (28%) reported being embarrassed to smile or laugh due to the condition of their teeth. Young people who were eligible for free school meals were twice as likely to have severe or extensive tooth decay.

The most recent Adult Dental Health survey was undertaken even longer ago, in 2009, covering England, Wales and Northern Ireland. At that time only 23% of 16-24 year olds achieved ‘excellent oral health’, which included criteria such as having 21 or more natural teeth, 18 or more sound and untreated teeth and roots and no decay detected at any site. In 1978 16 to 24 year olds had 27.4 teeth on average compared with 28.6 in 2009 (HSCIC, 2011).

All data correct as of 1st November 2021

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