Evaluation of dental therapists undertaking dental examinations in a school setting in Scotland.

Objective: To measure agreement between dental therapists and the Scottish gold-standard dentist undertaking National Dental Inspection Programme (NDIP) examinations.

Methods: A study of interexaminer agreement between 19 dental therapists and the national gold-standard dentist was carried out. Pre-calibration training used the caries diagnostic criteria and examination techniques agreed by the British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry (BASCD).

The role of extended duties dental nurses in applying fluoride varnish for the prevention and control of dental caries.

Unlabelled: The role of extended duties dental nurses (EDDNs) in undertaking preventive dental care has provided an opportunity for their direct involvement in patient care, both at an individual patient level and as part of a population wide health improvement initiative. The article describes the developing role of the dental nurse in the clinical application of fluoride varnish, with associated evidence of effectiveness for the prevention and control of dental caries. The use of fluoride varnish as being central to caries preventive programmes for individual patients judged at risk of future dental caries is considered.

Fluoride rinsing and dental health inequalities in 11-year-old children: an evaluation of a supervised school-based fluoride rinsing programme in Edinburgh.

Objectives: Previous studies have shown that fluoride mouthrinsing programmes are effective in reducing caries among children and adolescents. National surveys of child dental health in the UK confirm that there is variation in oral health. In particular, children of low socioeconomic status in Scotland have a disproportionately high share of dental disease.

Dental health of prisoners in the north west of England in 2000: literature review and dental health survey results.

Background: A caries prevalence study of prisoners in the North West of England was conducted to allow comparisons with results of the 1998 United Kingdom Adult Dental Health Survey.

Method: A random sample of prisoners in the North West of England was interviewed and examined using the same criteria as the 1998 United Kingdom Adult Dental Health Survey.

Results: From a random sample of 316 prisoners, 279 (88%) were interviewed and 272 (86%) received a dental examination.