FOR many people, a trip to the dentist still evokes unpleasant childhood memories of big needles and screeching drills. And judging by data from an OECD report, “Health at a glance”, released on Tuesday December 8th, eastern European adults will be having nightmares for years to come. Polish children have the worst teeth in any OECD country; a 12 year old has nearly four teeth that are missing, decayed or have a filling. American adults are renowned for having perfect sets of pearly whites, but each child has one decayed or missing tooth. Britain's children (along with Germany's) have the healthiest teeth, if not the straighest or whitest in later life.

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