WIREDGOV

The latest annual reports on the dental public health programmes delivered by NHS Community Dental Services in Wales have shown that the programmes have recovered well from the pause during the pandemic. 

Designed to Smile, the oral health programme to prevent dental caries (also known as cavities) in children, which is delivered by staff from the seven local health boards through nurseries and primary schools, has made considerable progress in its key delivery measures and in most have returned to around the levels recorded in the 2018-2019 report. 

In the academic year 2023-24, Designed to Smile delivered fluoride varnish application sessions to more settings than ever before, with 621 schools and nurseries participating in the programme.   

In addition, 35,544 home toothbrushing packs were distributed by health visitors to families to help develop positive oral health habits at the earliest stage, along with 16,562 trainer cups. 

832 professionals in the childcare, health and social care areas, and 640 health visitors and students were given oral health education training. 

Mary Wilson, Consultant in Dental Public Health for Public Health Wales, said:

“Clearly the disruption to school and nursery settings during pandemic restrictions, along with the redeployment of staff to other priority areas, meant that the Designed to Smile programme was paused, and has had to build back.  I’m extremely grateful to the hard work of the health board staff who deliver the programme across Wales in rebuilding the programme to its pre-pandemic level. 

“It’s really encouraging to see that so much progress has been made in recovering the programme, which will have a long term, positive impact on the teeth of children in Wales.”  

The Gwen am Byth – A Lasting Smile – programme is targeted at care and nursing homes and is aimed at training staff who deliver personal care to become mouthcare ‘champions’, who will then be supported to train their colleagues.  

495 of the 586 nursing and residential care homes in Wales are participating in the Gwen am Byth programme, and more than 5000 staff have attended 1262 sessions delivered by health boards’ dental teams. 

Mary Wilson said:

“Ensuring that people who are living in nursing and residential care homes have the best possible mouthcare makes a big difference to both physical and mental health, as well as the overall quality of life.  The Gwen am Byth programme is designed to ensure that staff in nursing and care homes are fully equipped to promote the best possible mouthcare to their residents, and we’re delighted that it is doing so well.”