The development of a national oral health promotion programme for pre-school children in England

Abstract

Dental caries amongst pre-school children remains a significant dental public health problem in the UK. The well-developed and extensive treatment and preventive services in the UK have failed to effectively prevent dental caries in a significant proportion of pre-school children, especially within disadvantaged communities. This paper outlines the development of an innovative national oral health promotion programme in England which has targeted the carers of pre-school children attending day care facilities. Extensive background research informed the approach of the programme and the resource requirements. Particular emphasis in the programme has been on the development of policies and guidelines in day care settings that promote oral health. Key features of the programme have been the integration of oral health and nutrition, and joint working across sectors and professional disciplines. An evaluation framework, which outlines a range of outcome measures that can be used to assess the effects and impact of the programme, is also described.