Rochdale children enjoy a visit from the dentist
Schoolchildren in Rochdale enjoyed a visit from dental professionals this week as part of a pilot scheme run by Public Health England. Children from St Mary’s Church of England Primary School were paid a visit by their dental buddies.
The ‘Dental Buddy’ scheme is designed to link up dental professionals and schools to encourage children to adopt good habits, and to enable them to get used to seeing dentists on a regular basis. The school is participating in the pilot, which enables children to receive a host of dental benefits during the school day. During their visits, the team, which will usually consist of a dentist and a dental nurse, will offer services like routine check-ups and fluoride varnish treatment. They will also be talking to children about healthy eating and giving them tips to help them hone their brushing skills.
Deputy head teacher, Kay Whitfield, described the pilot programme as “fabulous” and encouraged other schools to take advantage of the buddy service. Many of the parents have already given positive feedback, and the children have responded to the sessions brilliantly. Some parents have said that they feel more comfortable and confident about taking their children to the dentist, and commented that the kids are taking more care when it comes to brushing.
Year 6 student, Mischa Eaton, said that she had already learned a lot from the sessions like how to brush her teeth properly and not to drink fizzy drinks all the time.
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