A nurse’s role—public health in dental practice

Oral health experience in Salford is poor compared to North West and England averages. With an index of multiple deprivation of 68.43, it is within the 5% most deprived areas in England (Communities and Local Government, 2007) (Figure 1).

Figure 1.tle>Proportion of high (red), medium (amber) and low (green) risk/need patients in practices based in Windsor, Salford and Oldham (Harris R et al, 2011)

The incentives to deliver preventive care in dental practices under the general dental practice contract implemented in 2006 have generally been viewed as weak (House of Commons Health Select Committee, 2008). A new system of commissioning was therefore viewed as necessary to reorientate general dental services towards preventive care and away from its primary focus on treatment (Harris and Bridgman, 2010).