Smile please – ensuring the oral health of children in care.

Visiting the dentist is an anxious time for many children in care. For some it can be the first time. Others may be fearful because of poor past experiences and previous lack of support.  The dentist can be yet another stress in a stressful life.

If we have not been to a dentist before, or regularly, we could find it hard to understand what is happening.  A visit to the dentist, even for a check-up, brings a lot physically and emotionally. These can be powerful if not overwhelming, the glaring bright lights, the loud sounds of drills and electric toothbrushes.

Here’s one example of how it can be done by a home.

‘A teenager with co-occurring needs hadn’t been to the dentist for over 2 years due to a previous poor experience. We spent a great deal of time slowly introducing the idea of the dentist through discussions. We paid for an initial private appointment while awaiting allocation of an NHS dentist.  We discussed in everyday talking the benefits of attending the dentist and shared personal experiences to role model that we didn’t find it scary. We gave lots of reassurance and attended all appointments with them. Yes, we did give incentives to go to the initial check-up. We told the child of the appointment well in advance and each stage of the countdown had some preparation involved.

Learn more in the download here.

An Ofsted checklist PLUS resources for educating your dentist, staff, children

And rewording ‘Happy Birthday’ about brushing teeth … a vital resource