The numbers have increased SEVENFOLD since 2010/11, when there were 208 hospital admissions for tooth extraction

Hundreds of children having teeth extracted as hospital treatments hit their highest level in six years in Birmingham.

There were 1,464 hospital admissions for teeth extractions for children from the Birmingham CrossCity CCG in 2015/16, the highest number since at least 2010/11, and up from 795 in 2014/15.

The numbers have increased SEVENFOLD since 2010/11, when there were 208 hospital admissions for tooth extraction.

Included in the admissions were 297 for children aged between one and four to have multiple teeth extracted, the highest number since at least 2010/11, as well as 730 admissions for children aged five to nine, the highest number since at least 2010/11.

In Sandwell and West Birmingham, the number of hospital admissions for teeth extractions has also hit a six year high, at 141 in 2015/16, up from 33 in 2014/15.

Across England, the number of times children had full dental clearances, where all their teeth are removed, was at its highest level since at least 2005/06, with 86 hospital admissions in 2015/16.

Of these, 42 cases involved children aged one to four, and 29 were children aged five to nine.

There were also 13 cases involving children aged 10 to 14, and one each for 15 and 16-year-olds – cases that are likely to involve the removal of adult teeth.

As well as these cases, there were seven admissions in 2015/16 of children for lower dental clearances, and 37 for upper dental clearances, according to figures published by NHS Digital.

There were 39,435 admissions to hospital in 2015/16 for extractions of multiple teeth, down slightly from 40,435 in 2014/15.

Children aged five to nine were the most likely to be admitted to hospital for multiple teeth extraction, making up 22,302 admissions in 2015/16.

As well as this, there were 6,097 admissions for unspecified simple extractions of a tooth, down from 6,123 in 2014/15.

• Original article online at http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/thousands-brummie-kids-having-lots-12568751