A number of local consultations have been combined to explore professional and public experiences of oral health and oral health services in Somerset. 8.1: Health Visitor Survey In Somerset Health Visitors distribute toothpastes and toothbrushes to children aged 1 and 2 years as part of their routine visits. This resource pack also includes information on the amount of fluoride in toothpaste and oral health education (developed by the NHS Oral Health Team). Twenty-six Health Visitors in Somerset responded to an on-line survey exploring their experiences of delivering the programme and oral health education in general. Health Visitors reported that all parents responded positively to the distribution programme and that the resources were a good way to initiate a conversation about oral health. Health Visitors reported that the programme was easy to implement, although the resource management was typically overseen by administrators. Although 92% of this sample reported that their advice to parents includes information on diet, sugar intake and weaning, it less frequently included information on dental registration (76%). Very few Health Visitors (11.5%) reported in their knowledge feeling ‘very confident’ of oral health but most (>90%) considered their knowledge to be adequate. 73% had never received any specific training on oral health. A small number of Health Visitors in the sample (15%) did not commence oral health conversations until after the child had turned 1 year of age. Health Visitors identified that there were mixed messages in the community about when a child should first start attending the dentist, or when children should start cleaning their teeth. For example, frequently parents with children aged 1 year and older had not started to clean their teeth because they they should. This was also evident when parents of didn’t realise children accessing a fluoride varnishing scheme in were asked about their children’s centres oral health (see 8.3). Several Health Visitors suggested that attendance at post-natal child’s groups by dental or oral health services could help new parents better understand their own and their oral health and hygiene needs. child’s 8.2: Parents of children taking part in Fluoride Varnishing programme at ‘getset’ children’s centres
A number of local consultations have been combined to explore professional and public experiences of oral health and oral health services in Somerset. 8.1: Health Visitor Survey In Somerset Health Visitors distribute toothpastes and toothbrushes to children aged 1 and 2 years as part of their routine visits. This resource pack also includes information on the amount of fluoride in toothpaste and oral health education (developed by the NHS Oral Health Team). Twenty-six Health Visitors in Somerset responded to an on-line survey exploring their experiences of delivering the programme and oral health education in general. Health Visitors reported that all parents responded positively to the distribution programme and that the resources were a good way to initiate a conversation about oral health. Health Visitors reported that the programme was easy to implement, although the resource management was typically overseen by administrators. Although 92% of this sample reported that their advice to parents includes information on diet, sugar intake and weaning, it less frequently included information on dental registration (76%). Very few Health Visitors (11.5%) reported feeling ‘very confident’ in their knowledge of oral health but most (>90%) considered their knowledge to be adequate. 73% had never received any specific training on oral health. A small number of Health Visitors in the sample (15%) did not commence oral health conversations until after the child had turned 1 year of age. Health Visitors identified that there were mixed messages in the community about when a child should first start attending the dentist, or when children should start cleaning their teeth. For example, frequently parents with children aged 1 year and older had not started to clean their teeth because they didn’t realise they should. This was also evident when parents of children accessing a fluoride varnishing scheme in children’s centres were asked about their child’s oral health (see 8.3). Several Health Visitors suggested that attendance at post-natal groups by dental or oral health services could help new parents better understand their own and their child’s oral health and hygiene needs. 8.2: Parents of children taking part in Fluoride Varnishing programme at ‘getset’ children’s centres
FINAL_DRAFT_ORAL_HEALTH_IMPORVEMENT_STRATEGY_18.03.2015.docx