One in four five-year-olds in Doncaster have tooth decay

Around one in four five-year-olds in Doncaster have already experienced tooth decay, according to new analysis of government figures. The study by My Health Protected looked at the 2024 oral health survey of five-year-old schoolchildren across England, covering 81,905 children. It found that 25.4% of children in Doncaster had obvious tooth decay, placing the area 57th out of 127 published figures. That is three percentage points above the England average of 22.4%. The figure includes children with obvious dentinal decay, as well as teeth that had been filled or removed because of decay. Doncaster’s result matched North Lincolnshire, which also recorded 25.4%. Nearby Rotherham was slightly lower at 23.5%, while Sheffield recorded 28.5%. The highest figure in England was in Brent, where 43.4% of children had experienced tooth decay. Newham followed at 40.1%, and Ealing at 38.8%. The findings underline how sharply children’s dental health varies across England, with Doncaster still above the national level before many children have reached the early years of primary school.