from wealthy backgrounds . For the most vulnerable in our society , the injustice of poor oral health has ramifications beyond the mouth and the repercussions are sadly not just limited to childhood .
DP : Clearly a multi-faceted issue , a big task and a big ask , how are you going to do this ? SH : I am under no illusion that this is a complex area and , in many cases , we are dealing with some very hard to reach groups . However , that shouldn ’ t stop us from trying to make in-roads . Every mouth matters and as I have said from the outset of my tenure as CDO England , collaboration is the key . We should acknowledge the improvements that have been achieved and we have some useful lessons identified , the approaches and messages that worked very successfully for the majority now need to be re-tailored for the remaining minority . As such we are not looking for a single activity but we need to ensure that we use experience to bespoke the approaches and exploit different avenues , including technology , if we are to ensure that every contact with every child counts . We have evidence that supports the facts that when broader health and social care workers actively engage there are real patient benefits ; consistent health messaging makes it easier for parents / patients to adopt healthier choices , positive reinforcement at each health contact normalises prevention and improves motivation to seek early intervention .
Synergy of effort with regards to oral health , hygiene and dietary messaging is key to SMILE4LIFE ; simple but effective steps that empower self-care and deliver an overall improvement in health . Finding the right time , method , setting or place along with the most appropriate person or
organisation to deliver the messages to the target groups needs careful thought . This requires several things - understanding that the mouth belongs back in the body : a capacity and a desire to deliver the messages ; and importantly capability ( within the NHS England ) dental service , to receive and accept into care those children that are brought or referred to them .
Finding partners has not proved as difficult as anticipated . With sugar as the common risk factor , and its association with childhood obesity and diabetes , we have joined forces with Dr Jackie Cornish , the National Clinical Advisor for Childhood and Adolescent Health . That the NHS England strategy for children and young people ’ s health should include dental health makes absolute sense to Dr Cornish . She has been on board from the outset and is a strong advocate for SMILE4LIFE . Dr Cornish has first-hand experience of distressed children and parents waiting for that GA session for the removal of decayed teeth . In addition , the National Clinical Advisor for Diabetes , National Clinical Advisor for Patients with Learning Difficulties and National Clinical Advisor for Mental Health have all committed their support to SMILE4LIFE . The dental profession is no longer a lone voice and with this broader base of support to our endeavours we can make every contact with every child count . Co-ordination is what the office of CDO offers in aligning the SMILE4LIFE activities with Public Health England ’ s Child Oral Health Improvement Board and supporting NHS England ’ s commitment to innovative commissioning for prevention in key sites where need is most vital . We also have the active support of our own innovators in the dental profession ; with the designer of BRUSH DJ , Ben Underwood , whose free app complemented by a series of You Tube videos is an excellent example of increasing access to self-care whether you are 2 , 22 , 52 or 92 . Together with very welcome offers of support from partners in the oral health industry , as well as the support of professional groups such as British Society for Paediatric Dentistry , Royal College of Surgeons and well placed dental professionals across the political spectrum ; we have the nidus for success .
So clearly the prevalence of dental decay is not being left as an issue to be solved by dentists and DCPs alone . While we have the opportunity to lead SMILE4LIFE ; oral health is about quality of life and we have initiated a growing recognition that the responsibility also lies with all health , educational and social care workers . These groups are equally as key to the efforts that are required to tackle poor oral health and prevent dental disease , as the dental profession is to addressing conditions such as diabetes , obesity and cardio-vascular disease . These inter-professional links are being established and reinforced over 2017 leading up to what I hope will be fulsome political , Public Health England and NHS England support for a formal public launch of SMILE4LIFE .
DP : S� �h� h��e��� �e �d���ed �h�� �������h f�� ���l he�l�h �ef��e� SH : There are many factors that may have previously hindered realisation of a national ambition . However , change in attitude is at hand and we should acknowledge that some of the legacy barriers that have mired action at a national scale have recently been addressed by the efforts of the profession
12 Dental Practice Magazine