September 2014

Public health competencies being illustrated • • • • Oral health surveillance Oral health improvement Developing and monitoring quality dental services Dental Public Health intelligence Initial impetus for action The Department of Health in England have issued key policy and guidance documents aiming to support evidence-based oral health improvement through the delivery of high quality, accessible and appropriate dental services: • Choosing better oral health: An oral health action plan for England (DH, 2005) • Healthy Lives, Healthy People: Our strategy for public health in England (DH, 2010b) • Equity and excellence: Liberating the NHS (DH, 2010a) • The NHS Outcomes Framework 2014/15 (DH, 2013a) • The Public Health Outcomes Framework 2013/16 (DH, 2013b) • Improving oral health and dental outcomes: Developing the dental public health workforce in England (DH, 2010c) • Delivering Better Oral Health: An evidence-based toolkit for prevention (BASCD, 2009 and PHE, 2014a) • Local authorities improving oral health: commissioning better oral health for children and young people: An evidence-informed toolkit for local authorities (PHE, 2014b) • The use of fluoride varnish by dental nurses to control caries (PCC, 2009). The NHS White Paper, Equity and excellence: Liberating the NHS (DH, 2010a) restated the importance of improving the oral health of school children. It proposed the introduction of a new dental contract that will focus on three elements; improving quality, capitation and registration. More recently the functions to improve oral health of local populations that were bestowed on Primary Care Trusts since 2006 have now transferred to local authorities (DH, 2012). This paper will focus on data gathered within Bradford and Airedale (Yorkshire and Humber region, England), a health district that has an estimated population of 506,800 people.