Mobile dentist rolled out for primary pupils

Published on Tuesday 18 August 2009 09:40

A MOBILE dental unit is to visit schools in deprived areas as part of a scheme to improve the state of youngsters' teeth.

The van will initially base itself once a week at three schools to check the state of children's teeth and gums.

It is hoped it will improve the dental records of children who are less likely to attend for check-ups, according to health inequality statistics.

The facility, run by charity ChildSmile, will pay weekly visits to three primary schools in the Craigshill area of Livingston, acknowledged as one of West Lothian's poorest areas.

It will attend Letham, Beatlie and Riverside primary schools and offer treatment and encouragement to children to look after their own teeth.

The project will then be expanded to other parts of West Lothian, with others calling for the scheme to made Lothians-wide.

Robert Naysmith, NHS Lothian's clinical director of community dental services, said the service would boost the quality of dental provision in the area.

"I am delighted to see the launch of this fantastic new unit which is targeted at children who will benefit greatly from preventative care.

"The specialised dental care and equipment offered in the unit means that children in West Lothian will receive high-quality treatment easily and conveniently."

The state-of-the-art dental unit – the first of its kind in the area – won't only give check-ups to school pupils.

Procedures such as fluoride varnishing will also be provided as part of the drive involving dentists, dental hygienists, dental nurses and support workers.

Information will also be given to youngsters on what food and drink is bad for teeth, and help them find their own dentist.

Latest statistics show that the number of children admitted to a dental hospitals has fallen over the years, a sign that the general oral health of youngsters is slowly improving.

NHS Lothian data also reveals that more than 90 per cent of three-to-five year-olds in the Lothians are registered with a dentist – well above the national average.

But within those figures there is a large gulf relating to wealth, and a child from a poor family is significantly less likely to go for a check up at their local dentist.

Cllr Gordon Munro, whose Leith ward also has primary schools with pupils from deprived areas, said he would welcome the scheme being expanded.

"This sounds like a great initiative," he said. "It would work not only in Leith but across the city.

"It's really important to have good dental health as a child.

"With Scottish kids' like for Irn-Bru and sweeties it's no surprise that something like this is needed."

&#149 www.nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk

&#149 www.child-smile.org