Improving oral health among schoolchildren - which approach is best?
This opinion piece considers the focus of the coalition government on improving the dental health of schoolchildren. It shows how oral health improvement teams have moved on from approaches which involve the education of children alone. More modern interventions are selected from a palette of evidence-informed options to suit the needs of the local population. Such options should ensure a multilevel approach. A plea is made for any new guidance to be informed by dental public health specialists who have practical experience to ensure that outdated methods are not re-introduced.
NHS Manchester, Department of Dental Public Health, 2nd Floor, Parkway Three, Parkway Business Centre, Princess Road, Manchester M14 7LU. gill.davies@manchester.nhs.uk
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D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000517:prevention & control; D003733:Dental Caries Susceptibility; D005457:Fluoridation; D005460:Fluorides, Topical / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005522:Food Services; D006267:Health Education, Dental / Q000379:methods; D006291:Health Policy; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009909:Oral Health; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education; D011636:Public Health Dentistry; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012571:School Dentistry; D013218:State Dentistry; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000295:instrumentation; D014100:Toothpastes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006113:United Kingdom
D005460:Fluorides, Topical; D014100:Toothpastes