Earlier on this week, Conservative MP David Davies called for the controversial teeth testing of migrant children to confirm their age. Children have been arriving in the UK, from Calais, to join family members already in situ. Further checks may also potentially be performed, such as, Interviews and fingerprinting to attempt to certify identity.
Suspicions have been raised that some migrants are adults masquerading as children, and the Conservative MP for Monmouth, has called for compulsory dental checks to be performed to identify the age of people gaining refuge in the UK. Mr Davies was quoted on the BBC Website as saying that one of the children arriving had, “lines around his eyes and looks older than I am. If they are jumping on lorries, they are not going to be adverse to lying about their ages. We should do the tests.”
Following the controversy, dentists have condemned the checks, expressing concerns that the procedure would be unethical. A spokesman for the British Dental Association (BDA) has also spoken out about the disputed claims that dental checks would be able to confirm someone’s age and said the BDA was ‘Vigorously opposed’ to the idea of using dental X-rays for such means. “It’s not only an inaccurate method for assessing age, but it is both inappropriate and unethical to take radiographs of people when there is no health benefit for them.” The debate continues.