Dental health - The Herefordshire Partnership

Dental health

Dental health in the county is poor by regional and national standards4. Unlike many areas, Herefordshire's water supply is not fluoridated.  The PCT has asked the Strategic Health Authority to commission a feasibility study into fluoridation of the water supply in Herefordshire as there is clear evidence that this would bring about a significant improvement in the county's dental health. 

School children aged 5 are surveyed for the number of their first teeth that are decayed, missing or filled (DMFT).  Table 5.5 shows a consistent picture of poor dental health from early life in Herefordshire.  Compared to regionally and nationally:

• proportion of 5 year olds with dental decay is higher
• number of teeth diseased in those children is higher
• number of sound teeth for all county 5 year olds is lower

Table 1. Decayed, missing or filled teeth (DMFT) in 5 year-old children, 2005-06

* i.e. including those whose teeth have no disease.
Source: British Association for the Study of Community Health: Survey Report 2005-2006