DT News - UK - National campaign to address early-life oral health crisis

Dental Tribune UK

Thu. 21 September 2017

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MANCHESTER, UK: According to figures from the Faculty of Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, four in five children under 2 years of age in England did not see a dentist last year. Over the same period, more in-hospital operations to extract teeth in children and teenagers were performed than ever before. To reduce the number of younger children needing extractions under general anaesthesia, among other goals, the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry (BSPD) is currently inviting dentists all over the country to join a new campaign to improve oral health in children younger than 2 years of age.

Part of Smile4Life, a national framework introduced in 2016 for oral health initiatives aimed at young children, the Dental Check by One (DCby1) campaign is intended to encourage parents and caregivers to take children to the dentist before they have reached their first birthday. Supported by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, the Faculty of General Dental Practice, the British Orthodontic Society and other national organisations, it will officially be launched this week at the BSPD’s annual conference in Manchester.

“Children as young as 2 and 3 are being admitted to hospital for extractions under general anaesthetic, which is why we need to reach families early to provide support on prevention. We hope DCby1 will raise awareness of the importance of looking after children’s teeth from an early age. Baby teeth do matter,” said Dr Claire Stevens, a consultant in paediatric dentistry and the incoming President of BSPD.

Chief Dental Officer for England Dr Sara Hurley, who is officially launching the campaign at the Lowry arts centre tomorrow, added: “The opportunities and benefits of DCby1 are a vital element in addressing health inequality and securing a smile for life for every child. Working together with families, the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry and the dental profession, we are taking a major step forward in realising our ambition of a generation of cavity-free children.”

Practices who wish to actively participate in the campaign and communicate that they are open to children between 0 and 2 years of age can download the official DCby1 logo from the resources section of the BSPD’s website. They can further show their support on social media using #DCby1. For practices that have an NHS contract and have fulfilled their units of dental activity allowance, the BSPD said it is working with the Office of the Chief Dental Officer to allow over-performing practices to still receive payment for additional 0- to 2-year-olds they treat.

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