Dental therapy and hygiene students support children and parents

Poor oral health in children continues to hit the headlines. New figures from the Local Government Association state that 160 children and teenagers have teeth extracted in hospital under general anaesthetic every day. These operations are wholly avoidable with good oral hygiene practices and diet and regular check-ups with a dentist.

The PUPSD students have carried out a project with Action for Children at its Green Ark Children Centre, to provide children and their parents with the knowledge and information to prevent tooth decay – and so avoid those trips to hospital.

The students provided interactive demonstrations on oral hygiene techniques and diet advice, and carried out free fluoride varnish application – a treatment which has been proved to prevent tooth decay.

There was also the opportunity for parents to sign up their children for treatment and check-ups at one of PUPSD’s dental education facilities, where dental profession students treat NHS patients as part of their studies under the supervision of qualified dental clinical professionals.