9:59am Monday 15th March 2010
By Gazette newsdesk
CUMBRIA is to be at the cutting-edge of national improvements to NHS dentistry.
The county has been chosen to spearhead pilot schemes which will see NHS dental teams providing more preventative dental care to improve oral health.
NHS dental surgeries across Cumbria will be given the opportunity to take part in the pilots that will build on work that is already taking place in Kendal, Appleby, Wigton and Brampton.
Dentists in Cumbria will be offered the opportunity to work with their local community, offering preventative oral health advice alongside the traditional treatment they provide.
Some pilots will focus on schemes that will ensure all members of the community get preventive advice. This will include fluoride varnish that protects teeth against decay, support for smokers to help them quit and general advice on diet and nutrition.
Other pilots will develop new communication approaches with patients to help them understand their personal dental disease risk and provide them with clear information about how to look after their mouths in the period between visits to the dentist.
Cumbria has been selected in recognition of the early work done over the last twelve months to introduce preventative dental services and the increase access to NHS dentistry, closer to home.
More than 37,000 new NHS places have been created in Cumbria over the last year and plans are already being developed for an additional 22,500 which are expected to become available to patients from the end of this year.
Eric Rooney, NHS Cumbria’s consultant in dental public health, said: “We are delighted to have been selected to pilot these developments as part of the implementation of the national review of NHS dentistry.
“The work we are doing in Cumbria to improve both the quality and quantity of NHS dentistry is extremely important.
“These pilots will help to ensure that alongside the extra dental places we are introducing closer to home, people will be given the support and information they need to improve their oral health.”
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