Dental Disease
The UK NSC policy on Dental disease screening in children
More Information
Tooth decay (also known as dental decay and dental caries) results from a bacterial infection of your teeth.
» Read more about dental decay on NHS Choices
Policy Position
The UK NSC confirms the decision that there is no evidence to support the continued population screening for dental disease among children aged 6 to 9 years, and recommend to the Chief Dental Officers that higher value use of the resources thus freed may be indicated, in particular to tackle health inequalities.
This policy was reviewed in Mar 2007 and significant changes were made. It is due to be considered again in 2011/12, or earlier if significant new evidence emerges.
Evidence Supporting the Policy
In 2004 the UK NSC held a workshop to discuss dental screening in 6-9 year old children. The results of a large controlled trial demonstrated that school dental screening was ineffective in reducing levels of untreated dental disease and increasing attendance at the level of the population. The results of the workshop were discussed at the NSC Child Health Sub-Group in 2005 and a report produced (see below).
In September 2006 the Programme Director of the UK NSC met with the Chief Dental Officer's team to discuss the implications of the report. At that meeting a number of other relevant issues were raised, notably:
- the successful implementation of the new contract which greatly improves the access to dental services even in inner city areas;
- the need for much more explicit process of informed consent for screening which has hitherto run on implied consent and opting out;
- the continuing high value attached to the dental survey.
In considering this screening programme, it is important to consider the relationship between screening and other issues of disease control, sometimes called primary prevention and tertiary prevention or treatment services. There is little evidence that resources should continue to be invested in whole population screening. However, it remains true that there is a marked social inequality in not only the incidence and prevalence of dental disease but also the use of services, even after the problems of access have been tackled.
It would seem unwise, therefore, to assume that the resources that would be freed up if whole population screening for dental disease were stopped could be removed from the Oral Health Programme budget.
Dental screening in 6-9 year old children (UK NSC Child Health Sub-Group interim report 2005)
See also information about this randomised controlled trial on school dental screening
Stakeholders
British Dental Association
The Dental Professionals Association
Institute of Child Health
Royal College of Surgeons
The stakeholder groups will be involved when the policy is next reviewed. If you think your organisation should be added, please contact us.
