Dental public health is the speciality of dentistry that is primarily concerned with preventing oral disease, promoting oral health and improving the quality of life for whole populations. It is concerned with the design and assurance of safe high quality dental services for all. It does so in collaboration with public and private organisations, communities and individuals.
Dental Public Health advice in Tayside is provided the Dental Public Health Network for South East Scotland. The network oversees the delivery of the oral health improvement programmes which are provided locally by the Public Dental Services and local Oral Health Improvement Team.
Oral Health
Dental Public Health
Oral Health in Tayside
The Health Board undertakes regular inspections of Primary 1 (P1) and Primary 7 (P7) as part of the National Dental Inspection Programme (NDIP) and of adults living in care homes.
NDIP is a statutory obligations and all schools must participate. Adult screening in care homes is conditional on the management/owners supporting the process. We are working to achieve access to all care homes and to inspect annually.
Information for Scotland other health board areas is available from the NDIP website:
At present no regular dental survey is conducted for adults. However, data shows that the oral health of adults in Scotland has improved markedly over the last 40 years. Data from the 2012 Scottish Health Survey showed that currently 90% of adults had all or some of their own natural teeth in (91% of men and 88% of women).
NDIP is a statutory obligations and all schools must participate. Adult screening in care homes is conditional on the management/owners supporting the process. We are working to achieve access to all care homes and to inspect annually.
Information for Scotland other health board areas is available from the NDIP website:
At present no regular dental survey is conducted for adults. However, data shows that the oral health of adults in Scotland has improved markedly over the last 40 years. Data from the 2012 Scottish Health Survey showed that currently 90% of adults had all or some of their own natural teeth in (91% of men and 88% of women).
Oral Health Improvement
Children
Improving the oral health of children is a key goal and Tayside participates in the national Childsmile programme. Details of this national programme are available at:
Adults
The oral health of most adults is monitored by their own dentists. However, the NHS Tayside Oral Health Improvement Team (OHIT) works with other agencies to deliver a number of preventive programmes for more vulnerable groups.
Adults in Care Homes
Since 2011 the OHIT have been working with care homes to raise the quality of oral hygiene delivery across Tayside. Following training from the OHIT, care homes that meet specific criteria are eligible for the Tayside Oral Health Award.
Improving the oral health of children is a key goal and Tayside participates in the national Childsmile programme. Details of this national programme are available at:
Adults
The oral health of most adults is monitored by their own dentists. However, the NHS Tayside Oral Health Improvement Team (OHIT) works with other agencies to deliver a number of preventive programmes for more vulnerable groups.
Adults in Care Homes
Since 2011 the OHIT have been working with care homes to raise the quality of oral hygiene delivery across Tayside. Following training from the OHIT, care homes that meet specific criteria are eligible for the Tayside Oral Health Award.
- Smile4 Life:- a programme developed to meet the specific and exceptional needs of homeless (roofless and houseless) people.
- Mouth Matters:- similar to Smile4life a programme to help meet the specific and needs of the offender population.
