The British Society of Paediatric Dentistry (BSPD) is urging parents to make sure their young children do not take unnecessary risks during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Accidents can happen at any time and frequently do in childhood. But while some are inevitable, there are accidents that can and should be avoided, especially now.
Spokeswoman Claire Stevens CBE, a Consultant in Paediatric Dentistry, said: 'I would like to put in a plea to parents and carers to limit play which could potentially lead to a fall or a crash resulting in damage to teeth. We are still seeing cases of dental trauma which is worrying.'
She explained that normally, when a child damages their permanent teeth, the dentist refers the child to an urgent dental care clinic or if they require specialist treatment, to a dental hospital. But dental practices are closed and hospitals are now only providing emergency care. Access to general anaesthetic is limited as medical colleagues must use life-saving equipment to care for COVID positive patients.
'Getting fresh air and exercise is important but it's also important to assess the potential risk of each activity. Many of the admissions we are seeing are for accidents that could have been prevented,' said Dr Stevens.
'When children are young and still not confident riding a bike or a scooter, a crash could easily damage a tooth. The roots of permanent teeth are not well established when they first come through and this would be considered an unfortunate accident at the best of times. Now, in the worst of times, even greater care should be taken to avoid unnecessary risks.
'My advice is to never allow more than one child at a time on a trampoline - they can so easily crash into each other if they go on the trampoline at the same time.'