The Government data showed 33,976 tooth extractions were carried out in children in 2025 due to tooth decay, up 11%, and equivalent to an extraction every 15 minutes.

Dr Charlotte Eckhardt, dean of the Faculty of Dental Surgery (FDS) at the Royal College of Surgeons of England, said: ‘No child should be hospitalised for a disease that is almost entirely preventable. Tooth decay is causing unnecessary pain, missed school days and avoidable hospital admissions at a higher rate in 2025 than the year before. This direction of travel must be reversed.  

‘If the government is to meet its goal of transforming the NHS dental system by 2035, it must ensure every child can see a dentist when they need to. A postcode must never dictate a child's health.'

The highest rates of extractions were in Yorkshire and the Humber (504 per 100,000 population of 0 to 19 year olds) with the lowest were in the East Midlands (73 per 100,000 population of 0 to 19 year olds). The average for England was 251 per 100,000 population of 0 to 19 year olds.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: ‘This Government inherited an NHS dental system in crisis and deteriorating children's health.

‘These figures highlight the issues that children across the country are facing - and they show exactly why this Government is giving kids extra help with their oral health.

‘This year we are rolling out supervised toothbrushing for 3-5 year olds and investing in more NHS dental appointments for children, to meet this challenge. While others attack our programme as "nanny state", our total focus is on improving the health of our children.'

The DHSC said it was likely the figures represented elective recovery and more children being able to access the care and should not be interpreted as a deterioration in children's oral health.

The Government said it was prioritising those with the greatest need through the dental contract.