‘It’s necessary to get on the market and unfold the message’: Chris Baker speaks to Leanne Birkett about Ghyllmount Dental’s success at encouraging early-years oral well being.

Ghyllmount Dental Observe is a multi-award-winning follow based mostly within the fairly market city of Penrith in Cumbria. Led by principal John Lewis, the follow has at all times been on the forefront of doing the precise factor in the area people.

Leanne Birkett is a part of the follow’s nursing group. She explains how her involvement in the area people started: ‘As a follow the hygienist group had typically visited native colleges however this had been finished on an advert hoc foundation.

‘In 2017 I used to be on maternity go away and my sisterin- legislation (who’s a trainer) requested me to come back and current to the youngsters at her faculty. I did it and actually loved it!

‘After I returned to work, John and Karon (our enterprise supervisor) requested me if I wish to proceed with the challenge. I had been a eager supporter of the Dental Verify by One scheme and doing extra of this appeared to offer me the chance to achieve extra folks – why wouldn’t I?’

Communities in want

There’s a want for good oral well being schooling throughout the nation – however maybe much more so in Cumbria. NHS dentistry is severely restricted and most of the unbiased practices within the space usually are not taking over new sufferers. There are such a lot of under-fives who might not have seen a dentist: a tragic missed alternative.

‘I knew that we might make an actual distinction throughout our native communities,’ continues Leanne. ‘So I began contacting all of the related native colleges and organisations – nurseries, playgroups, mom and child teams and so forth. I wasn’t certain what response that we might get however was delighted to listen to again from a number of of the faculties and organisations.’

The rollout of the programme was progressing nicely – after which, catastrophe. The pandemic occurred. ‘This was a disturbing time for all of us and like many, I believe we puzzled how on earth we might keep on as a enterprise. It was clear to me that every one lockdown had finished was make the necessity for the schooling we had been providing much more pressing. We simply needed to ship it otherwise!

‘That is what kicked me off on making my academic movies. These had been geared toward kids (and oldsters too), however with a light-hearted high quality in order to not come throughout as too preachy. These had been featured on my YouTube channel and my Instagram account. They let sufferers and non-patients alike know that they weren’t alone and we had been there for them.’

Taking issues additional

Because the UK got here out of COVID-19 restrictions, phrase amongst the area people had clearly been spreading as colleges and native teams had been getting in contact with Leanne, not the opposite method round. Leanne says: ‘There’s at all times a ready record now. In 2023 I now see a college each month or so.’

As Ghyllmount has finished extra, the sources being delivered by the group have developed too. When the group goes to see a category of kids they supply:

• Toothbrushes and toothpaste
• Toothbrushing chart
• Exercise booklets
• Colouring sheets and wordsearches
• Stickers
• Balloons.

Launched by the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry (BSPD) in partnership with the Workplace of the Chief Dental Officer England, the Dental Verify by One (DCby1) marketing campaign goals to extend the variety of kids who entry dental care aged zero to 2 years, by encouraging dental appointments for infants earlier than their first birthday.

Ghyllmount’s involvement with the scheme goes again to its launch in 2017, however the follow has continued with its dedication from the very outset. New dad and mom are inspired to register their kids right away and to begin bringing them alongside from start.

Successful the award

The Nationwide Affiliation of Specialist Dental Accountants (NASDAL) DCby1 award was developed to recognise the excellent dedication of practices to the DCby1 marketing campaign. The award judges had been notably impressed with the expansion in affected person numbers since Ghyllmount began with the programme. Affected person numbers have grown from 3,730 to 4,206 – a rise of greater than 12%.

The group have regularly reached out to the neighborhood and earned a wonderful fame for the care they provide to kids and the peace of thoughts they provide their dad and mom. Certainly, sufferers have joined particularly due to the fame for the care Ghyllmount supplies to kids.

And Leanne is evident about the way it felt to win the NASDAL DCby1 Observe of the Yr award. ‘Clearly delighted,’ she says. ‘We had been so, so honoured to win the award. However it isn’t an finish in itself for us – it’s purely recognition on our oral well being schooling journey.’

So what does the longer term maintain? Leanne says: ‘I’m already a volunteer at Dentaid and have been utilizing its “Vivid Bites” sources within the colleges and teams.

‘I hope that the £1,000 we gained will permit us to achieve much more native folks and unfold the phrase nonetheless additional. I simply love doing what I do and really feel very privileged to have the ability to ship it.’

Entry now open

Entries for the 2024 winner NASDAL Dental Verify by One Observe of the Yr Award at the moment are open and all those that have an interest ought to go to www.nasdal.org.uk/award, the place they’ll discover all of the related particulars and may register.

All entries have to be submitted earlier than 5pm, Friday 9 February 2024. The successful follow will obtain £1,000, a trophy, and the precise to make use of the NASDAL Dental Verify by One Observe of the Yr 2024 title.

This text first appeared in Dentistry magazine. 

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