Oral health in Hackney

Keeping children's teeth healthy

The Dental Outreach Team in Hackney is an NHS service focused on prevention and education. The team aims to reduce the tooth decay rate in Hackney - 27% of five year olds have tooth decay in Hackney and this figure is higher than the national average of 25%. 

The good news is tooth decay is preventable. 

The team offers the following services across the borough:

  • The NEW Tooth Friendly Nursery Scheme 2023 - Fast Track to Gold
  • The fluoride varnish programme (school-based)
  • The Supervised Toothbrushing Programme for SEND schools (school-based)
  • Train the Trainer Sessions
  • Oral Health Champion Training
  • Engagement and information sessions

NEW Tooth Friendly Nursery Scheme 2023 – Fast Track to Gold

Supervised Toothbrushing in Nursery settings has been shown to be one of the best interventions for reducing tooth decay in young children, and it strongly favours children from more deprived areas. We have now updated our Tooth Friendly Nursery Scheme to include daily brushing.

Our new criteria:

Tooth Friendly Nursery Certificate Tooth Friendly Nursery Gold Certificate

  • Introduction for nursery staff
  • Oral Health Champion /Train the Trainer session with our team
  • Healthy nursery verified; diet policy, healthy drinks policy (ideally
  • water only)
  • Brushing for Life pack for every child
  • Oral Health posters displayed in the nursery

All requirements for TFN PLUS

  • Oral health Champion running sessions children/parents (with our support)
  • Toothbrushing scheme set up with our guidance and training

The Fluoride Varnish Programme

This treatment reduces tooth decay rates by 37% in baby teeth and 43% in adult teeth and is open to all Primary Schools, including City Schools and Charedi Independent Schools.

Fluoride varnish is applied once a year to all consented children in reception and year1 by an experienced practitioner. Visits are generally completed in one day. We prepare the consent via Parent Mail or paper forms. Our Parent Mail consent forms can be translated. All children in Pupil Referral Units are eligible regardless of age and may be able to self-consent.

The Supervised Toothbrushing Programme for SEN schools

For SEN schools we offer a fully resourced programme including toothbrushes, toothpaste and storage racks as well as training and support. This involves daily brushing in the school. The programme is simple and is of enormous benefit to children who run a higher risk of tooth decay and can be reluctant to brush.

Train the Trainer Sessions

Our training is evidence-based and current. We provide details of accessing dental services and ensure professionals understand the process of referral to Secondary Care (Community) Dentistry

Oral Health Champion Training

We provide tailored training which covers the fundamentals of evidence-based prevention of oral disease, signposting to dental services and promoting good oral health within the relevant setting. We promote the Hackney Make Every Contact Count initiative. We support our Oral Health
Champions and keep them up-to-date with regular and relevant newsletters.

Engagement and Information Sessions

We can be found regularly at the Homerton Hospital promoting National Dental and wider Health Campaigns. In addition, we support groups and professionals with Wellbeing Days and Events.

Brushing For Life Packs

We have these available for different ages, including adult. They contain toothpaste, a toothbrush and a leaflet relevant to the target group. We encourage our network of Oral Health Champions to help with distribution.

Contact

  • For more information contact Kim Chambers, Oral Health Practitioner for Hackney and the City, on kim.chambers1@nhs.net

Useful resources