Socioenvironmental sugar promotion and geographical inequalities in dental health of 5-year-old children in England.

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between socioenvironmental sugar promotion and geographical inequalities in the prevalence of dental caries amongst 5-year-olds living across small areas within England.

Methods: Ecological data from the National Dental Epidemiology Programme (NDEP) 2018-2019, comprising information on the percentage of 5-year-olds with tooth decay (≥1 teeth that are decayed into dentine, missing due to decay, or filled), and untreated tooth decay (≥1 decayed but untreated teeth), in lower-tier local authorities (LAs) of England. These were analysed for association with a newly developed Index of Sugar-Promoting Environments Affecting Child Dental Health (ISPE-ACDH).

Timings and skill mix in primary dental care: a pilot study.

Aim The aim of this pilot study was to explore the time taken to complete key contemporary dental procedures by dentists and dental hygienists/therapists (DH/DTs) working in primary dental care and their views on the factors that influence the length of time taken to complete individual dental procedures.Materials and methods An exploratory mixed methods study of linear design, involving a questionnaire survey followed by focus group discussions exploring time required to complete dental procedures and influences, was conducted using a purposive sample of dental professionals working in primary dental care within the south east of England. Descriptive analysis of absolute timings was performed, together with thematic analysis of their reported influences.