The second National Epidemiology survey of the oral health of three year olds shows virtually no change since the first survey in 2013. Members of BSPD, the UK’s society dedicated to the oral health of children, are deeply frustrated by the findings and are calling for more initiatives to drive down the levels of dental decay which are blighting young lives.

The Early Years Healthy Development Review led by Andrea Leadsom (1) provides a vision for the first critical 1001 days of a child’s life in its newly published report. The omission of oral health from The Best Start for Life has been condemned by the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry.

The dental care of children in the UK with craniofacial conditions needs to be integrated with their overall NHS management and treatment says Sarah McKaig, President of BSPD. A team member in the West Midlands supra regional craniofacial unit at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, she was, until recently, the only paediatric dentist working within a specialised craniofacial unit. Mrs McKaig has been on a mission to highlight the oral health needs of children and young people with a craniofacial deformity since she became our President in 2019. Her long-term aim is that a national pathway for this cohort of children with complex oral health needs should be established and funded.

Marielle Kabban, a Consultant in Paediatric Dentistry at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, has been appointed as BSPD’s new Safeguarding Representative. Marielle has been a passionate advocate for child safeguarding since early in her career.

Motivation and a passion for improving children’s oral health are essential ingredients for any individual who enters BSPD’s annual Outstanding Innovation Award. Simon Hearnshaw, the winner in 2021, has both in abundance. Entering on behalf of the North Yorkshire and Humber Local Dental Network, of which he is chairman, he impressed the judges with the ‘In Practice Prevention’ (IPP) scheme that ensured thousands more children in the region got access to preventive treatment in a dental practice.