With Basildon recording some of the highest rates of dental decay and tooth extractions in children across Essex, a Basildon dental practice is taking action to improve children’s oral health.
Smile Dental Centre is one of more than a dozen dental practices across Mid and South Essex taking part in the Children and Young People Dental Scheme. The programme sees local dental practices working directly with schools to deliver early oral health education and in-school dental checks, helping to break down barriers that may otherwise prevent children from accessing timely care.
Led by NHS Mid and South Essex, under the leadership of David Barter and his team, the programme aims to help children and families build healthy oral habits from an early age through education, improved access to dental care, and early intervention.
As part of the initiative, dental practices such as Smile Dental Centre provide free oral health checks for Reception and Year 3 pupils across Mid and South Essex. Dental professionals carry out a simple “lift the lip” screening to examine each child’s mouth and identify early signs of tooth decay or cavities. Parents and carers are advised if further treatment may be needed, and families who do not currently have access to a regular NHS dentist can receive support from the dental practice that visited the school.
The practices also hold open days for families so that children can become more familiar with the dental environment and build confidence before future appointments.
Helping children feel comfortable in a dental setting at an early age is vitally important. Familiarisation sessions allow children to explore the practice in a relaxed and positive way, which helps reduce fear and anxiety and makes future visits much easier.
Smile Dental Centre is proud to support this important programme and remains committed to helping local families access preventative dental care and education.
Dr Sanjay Sareen, Lead Dentist at Smile Dental Centre
By encouraging healthy habits early in life, the programme helps prevent tooth decay, supports overall wellbeing, and gives young people the best possible start in life.
This project is a fantastic and engaging approach to improving children’s oral health. By working closely with schools and families, we can help children develop confidence for future dental visits. Through open days at our practice, we also give families the opportunity to learn more about oral health, ask questions, and address dental fears in a welcoming and supportive environment.
Dr Sunny Sareen, Lead Dentist at Smile Dental Centre
It has been a privilege to work with dental practices like Smile Dental Care to support children in Mid and South Essex. The expertise that dental professionals like Sunny and Sanjay Sareen bring is invaluable in improving children’s oral health while also helping them develop those everyday healthy habits that will look after their teeth.
David Barter, Deputy Director of Commissioning, NHS Mid and South Essex
Improving children’s oral health is a priority for Mid and South Essex, and this programme is already making a real difference to families who may otherwise struggle to access dental care.
It is inspiring to see local dental practices, such as Smile Dental Centre, working so closely with schools and communities to support children’s oral health. This partnership approach not only helps prevent tooth decay but also helps children build confidence in their oral hygiene and develop lifelong healthy habits.
Beverley Flowers, Executive Director of Neighbourhood Health, NHS Mid and South Essex
Smile Dental Centre also provides children with free toothbrushes and toothpaste, along with practical advice on how to brush effectively and maintain good oral hygiene.