CDO AGE-OLD PROBLEMS
SCOTLAND’S CHIEF DENTAL OFFICER MARGIE TAYLOR ON PLANS FOR THE YOUNG, THE OLD AND, NOT FORGETTING, THE ‘INBETWEENERS’
we have seen an unprecedented improvement in child oral health and, thankfully, we haven’t seen the concomitant increase in inequalities that can so easily happen with health promotion programmes. We have had interest in the Childsmile programme from many countries in Europe and as far away as New Zealand; the health economic analysis carried out by Glasgow University gave us a unique view of how the Scottish supervised nursery toothbrushing programme can deliver improvements for children coupled with a positive economic impact. Much of the success is due to the sustained efforts of parents; a great deal can be attributed to the dedication of the nursery nurses, who are the backbone of the supervised toothbrushing programmes, and the teachers who continue the good work in the primary schools. Each of these groups is
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establishing early positive behaviours that can have a lasting impact on a child’s health. Since the health messages for a healthy mouth can also impact on the health of the rest of the body, it is reassuring to know that in some way the path to healthy mouths may lead to the rest of the body benefiting too. Te oral health improvement
teams can see a real move to a preventive approach to care. We
he very young, the frail elderly and the most deprived are on everybody’s agenda if they want to make a real difference to the oral health of the nation. Over recent years,
Tis clearly has to be balanced by the greater needs of those at the other end of the age spectrum. Just as we have never before had
so many young people with healthy mouths, we have never before had so many frail older dentate people and the increasing likelihood of high levels of dementia add a dimension to their care that in some cases require a particularly dedicated and experienced group of practitioners to meet their needs. I was heartened at a meeting
Margie Taylor
know there is much more to be achieved, particularly with the most deprived groups and the recent Programme for Government document gives an undertaking to continue to address the inequalities. Te system at present, however,
was designed when the emphasis was very much on treating decayed teeth rather than the maintenance of an already healthy mouth. We need to recognise that the arrangements that suited previous generations need to change to accommodate the young person who requires an emphasis on the life-long prevention of caries and periodontal disease.
“WE KNOW THERE IS MUCH MORE TO BE ACHIEVED”
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of the British Society of Dental Hygiene and Terapy whose Scottish members expressed an interest in working with practitioners to help people in their own homes where the vast majority of housebound elderly people are likely to be. Tis creates an opportunity
for practitioners to maintain the health of many of their previously regular patients whose infirmity prevents them from attending the practice. It is well known that the benefit of being able to eat, speak, smile and generally interact socially with confidence is just as important for older people as it is for anyone else and the whole dental team can contribute. Health and social care integration potentially provides a platform for improved communication to highlight the needs of the housebound elderly. Over the next few months, my
colleagues and I will be discussing the best way forward to deliver a service to people at both ends of the age spectrum, while also meeting the needs of the ‘in betweeners’.
SCO TTISH DENT AL
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