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Chief dental officer hails Healthy Smiles scheme
11th Sep 2009
CDO Barry Cockcroft
A scheme to improve the oral health of toddlers in an area of high rates of tooth decay has been welcomed by chief dental officer for England Barry Cockcroft.
NHS Hounslow, in Middlesex, launched the Healthy Smiles scheme with the aim of improving the oral health of children aged three years and over.
In Hounslow, 47% of children under five have experienced tooth decay compared with 40% across London and 38% nationally.
With Healthy Smiles, parents can take their children to a dental nurse to have fluoride varnish applied at the same time as a shopping trip.
The dental nurse will also give help, advice and book them straight into a follow-up appointment with a local dentist.
On attending the follow-up visit, children will also be given their own ‘Brush for Life' kit that includes a free toothbrush and advice on oral health.
Barry Cockcroft said: ‘As I travel the country I see many examples of PCTs and dental teams working together to develop innovative schemes to improve oral health.
‘This scheme combines the evidence-based application of fluoride varnish with the extremely important issue of communicating the availability and value of dental services. All the people involved in developing and running this scheme should be proud of their achievements.'
NHS Hounslow's senior commissioning manager and project lead, Kelly Nizzer said: ‘This gives children confidence to see a dentist, having enjoyed a totally non-invasive experience. Healthy Smiles helps children in genuine high need, not just on the day, but giving them the confidence to go on seeing a dentist and looking after their oral health in the future.'
This scheme builds on the experience of earlier innovative pilots on dental access that NHS Hounslow has lead over the last year.
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