Consultation on a new oral health promotion strategy

Background

We are required to create an oral health promotion programme which is appropriate for County Durham.

The current strategy needs updating and we want your views on the contents of a new one which will run for five years until 2028.

The strategy

Many factors affect a person's ability to care for their oral health including poverty, isolation, poor mobility and physical or mental ill health. This strategy looks at ways we can help people by giving everybody the opportunity to access the information and support they need to improve their oral health. 

The strategy outlines a number of initiatives which support better oral health, such as improved advice for parents, oral health training for frontline staff and targeted tooth brushing schemes in nurseries and early years settings.

Draft Oral Health Promotion Strategy (PDF, 11.4mb)

Dental services

Local NHS dental practices, or community-based specialist dental services are commissioned directly by NHS England and not by us. We are aware that some patients are currently experiencing difficulties accessing these dental services. This is due to the high demand for dental care following Covid-19 restrictions, and dental workforce recruitment and retention challenges. NHS England are working with dentists to explore opportunities to increase access as quickly as possible. 

While dental check-ups are recommended to maintain good oral health, not everyone needs to see a dentist every six months. The dentist will recommend how often you should visit. 

As patients are not required to register with a dentist in the same way they are with a GP, patients can contact any NHS dental practice to access care. If you are having problems please see NHS: how to find an NHS dentist but be aware that dental practices are still prioritising patients based on need and urgency.

Have your say

Next steps

The feedback from the consultation will be considered, and the strategy will be updated, before it is presented to the Health and Wellbeing Board for agreement and adoption in March 2023.