Norfolk dentist claims some children have never seen a toothbrush
A dentist from Norfolk has claimed that some children he visits in local schools have never seen a toothbrush.
Stuart McCance visits schools in Waveney, Suffolk and Norfolk as part of a volunteer programme, which helps around 800 students. Mr McCance said that he is increasingly worried about standards of oral health among children in the region. Many children have decayed and missing teeth and some 6-year-olds he’s visited have never owned a toothbrush before.
For many kids involved in the volunteer project, which is called Happy Smiles Club, visiting dentists provide their first experience of seeing a dentist despite NHS guidelines recommending regular check-ups from the age of 6-12 months.
Happy Smiles Club is run by the dental team at John G Plummer in Norwich. It launched in March 2022 and is available to local schools free of charge. The team is currently visiting five schools to provide check-ups where needed and talk to children about oral hygiene and looking after their teeth and gums.
At one school, the team found that 88 of the 169 children needed immediate treatment and 82 children were not registered with a dentist. There are currently no local practices offering new child NHS places.
Chloe Blake, a dental nurse who is part of the volunteer team, said that the practice is constantly taking calls from parents asking about places for their children. When they did have a few places free, they were absolutely inundated, Chloe added.
Julia, a parent, said that she called multiple practices before finding a place for her daughter, Margo, who was born premature and needs fluoride treatments every 3 months. The practice was able to offer Margo a place but could only book an appointment for 12 months later. This is a problem many parents are facing, with many more unable to find a free place for their child.
For more news click here.
Join this Discussion