Tooth extractions in children from 2019 (FOI)

​Request 679657702

​How many tooth extractions were carried out on two year olds in each of the following years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024

How many tooth extractions were carried out on three year olds in each of the following years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024

How many tooth extractions were carried out on four year olds in each of the following years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024

How many tooth extractions were carried out on five year olds in each of the following years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024

What was the cost to the health service per child and per year? 

What was the primary cause of these extractions?

Response

Data for tooth extractions performed on those aged two to five years old, from 2019 to 2024, are provided in the attached tables. 

Table 1 details the total extractions performed on all those aged two to five years old in each year.

Table 1 - Annual procedures (totals) 2019 - 2024.pdf

Table 2 details the total extractions performed per age group across the six-year timeframe.

Table 2 - Age group totals 2019 - 2024.pdf

Due to small numbers, it is not possible to provide a breakdown of extractions performed by age for each year, as individuals could be identifiable. Therefore, Article 25 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 has been applied to protect the privacy of individuals.

The cost of extractions depends on several variables, including the location the procedure is performed in, how many teeth are extracted, and how clinically complex the extraction is. A simple tooth extraction as an outpatient costs from £130. Day Surgery costs for a simple, single tooth extraction is £964, on average. Major and multiple extractions cost approximately £1,330 in Day Surgery and up to £1,600 in Main Theatres as an inpatient.

Identifying averages per child for each year would require patient-level analysis and calculation of total costs, and it is estimated that the resource required to perform such manual analysis exceeds that prescribed in the Freedom of Information (Costs) (Jersey) Regulations 2014. Therefore, Article 16 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 has been applied.

Table 3 details estimated costs for each year, based upon the number of children undergoing each type of procedure and the average cost for each of the different types of procedure in each operating location.

Table 3 - Estimated annual costs 2019 - 2024.pdf

The primary reason for dental extraction is the prevention of future pain and / or infection, or the presence of active decay.

Articles applied

Article 16 - A scheduled public authority may refuse to supply information if cost excessive

​(1) A scheduled public authority that has been requested to supply information may refuse to supply the information if it estimates that the cost of doing so would exceed an amount determined in the manner prescribed by Regulations. 

Article 25 - Personal information

(1) Information is absolutely exempt information if it constitutes personal data of which the applicant is the data subject as defined in the Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2018.

(2) Information is absolutely exempt information if –

(a) it constitutes personal data of which the applicant is not the data subject as defined in the Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2018; and

(b) its supply to a member of the public would contravene any of the data protection principles, as defined in that Law.​