Every year we collect information on the health of peoples’ teeth. This is called a dental survey. The information helps to plan NHS dental services in your area.
This year the survey is collecting information about the health of the teeth of 3 year old children.
If your child’s setting is selected and your child is eligible you will be given an information sheet and a consent form.
If you agree, a dental team will have a quick look at your child’s teeth at their early years setting on a set date. This only takes a few minutes. It does not replace your child’s regular dental appointments. You should still take your child to these. New gloves and clean mirrors will be used for each child. No treatment will be provided.
You can see what the dental checks look at by watching this video.
You can come along if you like. Your child will not be forced to have a check if they do not want to. If you are happy for your child to take part, please complete and sign the agreement form given to you by your child’s early years setting, and return it to them.
If you agree to your child taking part, the early years setting will provide the dental team with your child’s name, date of birth, sex at birth, whether they are one of a multiple birth, ethnicity and postcode. These details will be used to check they are the right age to take part and will also be linked to your child’s dental survey check.
We use this to see if there are changes in children’s dental health in different groups and different places where they live to understand patterns in dental health.
The information will then be sent safely to the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities.