Helping children develop healthy habits to care for teeth while they are young is important. These habits can set the stage for good oral health care throughout their entire life and avoid many of the problems that result from poor oral health, including gum disease, cavities, and tooth decay. This indicator uses data from the Jersey Opinions and Lifestyle Survey (JOLS), which surveys a representative sample of adults in Jersey, to monitor whether the cost of dental appointments deters parents from accessing dental care for their children. Survey participants are asked whether the cost of dental appointments for children stop them from going and they can answer: no: yes - sometimes; yes - often; or, don't know. 

In 2022, 23% of households with children indicated that the cost of dental appointments for children stopped them from going sometimes (14%) or often (9%).*

The JOLS question used to obtain this data has only been asked once to-date, but going forward will be asked on a regular basis in order to establish a trend over time.

* Figures are rounded