Making a difference

Teeth Team is a collaborative working partnership on a school-based supervised tooth brushing programme, incorporating clinical dental assessments, applications of fluoride varnish and the subsequent signposting for accessing primary and secondary dental care. The child oral health improvement programme is facilitated by local dental practices in areas of severe social deprivation in Hull and East Yorkshire. Teeth Team currently supports 28 local primary, nursery and secondary schools. The programme is now a well-established and nationally recognised child oral health improvement initiative, which is facilitated within the City of Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire.

It has been in existence since 2010, when three local dental practices, the salaried dental service and a dental supply company, shared concerns relating to the extremely high incidence of caries in local children.