BDA supports further proposals for dental health
The British Dental Association has welcomed government proposals for dental public health but representatives have urged the government to go even further to try and improve oral health across the UK.
The BDA supports the proposals in the government’s white paper, Healthy Lives, Healthy People, but wants ministers to take further measures to reduce rates of decay and improve the current dental care system. Experts have also raised concerns about a shortage of consultants in dental public health, suggesting that this could affect patients who need specialist care. The BDA strongly believes that the expertise demonstrated by these consultants is very important for the national effort to improve oral health.
The BDA is particularly pleased with the new government target to reduce tooth decay amongst five year old children; at the moment, there is a significant gap between standards of oral health amongst children from wealthy backgrounds and children from deprived areas and the BDA is keen to work with the government to close the gap and improve standards of oral health amongst poorer children.
The white paper also outlines plans to reduce the consumption of specific foods and the BDA supports this notion; however, members have expressed disappointment that there is not as much focus on reducing sugar intake as salt intake, as sugar can be very harmful for oral health, as well as contributing to other health problems.
Dr Susie Sanderson, chair of the executive board of the BDA, said that there were many positive points and proposals but there are concerns that the issue of inequality between richer and deprived areas is not being addressed. The proposed introduction of a health premium may mean that money is invested in areas that perform well, rather than those that really need more money and attention.
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