A new partnership scheme between dentists and schools will allow dental problems to be detected much earlier in children—or possibly even prevented from needing treatment—another good option! The program is now conducting free periodic check-ups on 325 primary schools across Mid and South Essex. These exams will provide the children with NHS treatment, if required.
"Tooth decay is the most common reason for bringing children into the hospital," emphasized dentist Louise McAllister, participating in the program. According to NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board—which is undertaking implementation of this" program—"Supporting children and young people in developing healthy habits early on is critical to laying the groundwork for a lifetime of good oral health."
The most recent NHS figures from England show that close to one in four children have tooth decay. Ms. McAllister was referring to a "forty-five-million" annual expenditure by the NHS for the oral surgical correction of children using "general anesthetic" during hospital admission. "I think there is a fear of going to the dentist, but it can be fun."
Children will learn how to brush properly and what food and drinks to avoid. Any concerns found during the examinations will allow the child and family to register with a local NHS dental practitioner. This three-year project has been specifically for Reception-Year 3 children, with plans to roll it out to older years.
Holy Trinity Primary School, Halstead, was among the first schools to engage. The head teacher, Sarah Rowe, has said that "the visits have been extremely beneficial. It is not to give children the thinking that visiting the dentist is daunting."
William Guy, Director of Primary Care at Mid and South Essex ICB, said, "We are happy to be working with local dental practices to deliver this program in schools across mid and south Essex in order to help improve access of children and their families to dental care and oral health education, which will help in preventing more serious health risks associated with poor oral health from developing." Eddie Crouch, chair of the British Dental Association, stated that the scheme to "bridge the gap between access and prevention" should be "encouraged."
He reported, "Over 16 million children's NHS dental appointments have been lost since lockdown, and the oral health gap between rich and poor is widening. But the onus has to be on the government to keep its promises and save NHS dentistry." The Department of Health and Social Care commented that the present government had "inherited a broken NHS dental sector after many years of neglect" and was now "getting on with fixing it through Plan for Change."