Childsmile Expansion Funding (Scottish Government 2022)
In February 2022, the Scottish Government committed to an initial two year funding package, to expand the dental health support worker workforce and increase the frequency of oral health pack distribution across early years and primary school. This includes a toothbrush in the Baby Box and a dedicated allocation of oral health packs for childminders.
Statement of Dental Remuneration (Scottish Government 2022)
From 1st February 2022, dentists can claim Childsmile fees for children and young people up to 17 years of age. Fluoride varnish application claims can be made for children from age two to age 12 years. This expands the age range over which claims can be made for preventive services for children and young people.
Childsmile National Standards for Nursery and Toothbrushing Programmes.
The Childsmile Toothbrushing Standards are recognised as best practice guidance for delivering a supervised Toothbrushing Programme. Complemented by the Health and Social Care Standards, Early Years providers can ensure the provision of high quality toothbrushing programmes.
Supporting healthy smiles
This practice note has been written, in collaboration with colleagues at the Care Inspectorate, to help celebrate the excellent work in improving children’s dental health and oral hygiene across the country, as well as to support ongoing development of this initiative across ELC settings. It is designed to act as a tool to prompt reflection and develop approaches to toothbrushing, supporting good oral hygiene throughout life.
Oral Health Improvement Plan (Scottish Government 2018)
The Scottish Government underlined its ongoing commitment to Childsmile stating that ‘Childsmile will continue to expand.’
The Oral Health Improvement Plan (2018) advocates a move across the provision of dental services to a preventive approach. It recognises that whilst we have made significant improvements in overall oral health, our more deprived communities continue to be impacted by higher levels of decay.
Scottish Government further commits to taking a ‘proportionate universalism’ approach to provision of preventive services. Everyone will receive some level of provision but those at highest risk will receive more support, tailored to their needs.
Fairer Scotland (Scottish Government 2016)
Commits to further expanding Childsmile fluoride varnish programmes to an even greater proportion of the population.
Better Health, Better Care (Scottish Government, 2007)
Better Health, Better Care announced that Childsmile will be ‘rolled out as a new schools-based prevention dental service’, incorporating fluoride varnish applications to children’s teeth and fissure sealants applied as appropriate.
This action plan also outlined the Scottish Government’s target for NHS Health Boards, stating that 60 per cent of five-year-old children should be decay free by 2010.
Promoted a shift in balance of care towards prevention rather than treatment by targeting the early years age group.
National Guidelines SIGN Guideline 138 (2014)
This focuses on one-to-one interventions carried out by the dental team with children and young people aged 0-18 years. Key recommendations include twice yearly application of fluoride varnish in all children. The guide also reinforces the importance of twice daily supervised brushing with fluoride toothpaste containing between 1000-1500ppm, subject to risk assessment.
This presents clear and consistent advice to support dental professionals to deliver preventive care and, where necessary, manage caries.
The latest Cochrane Systematic Review (Marinho et al. 2013) highlights the benefits of fluoride varnish extend to all children, if applied systematically across all age groups.