Your NHS dentistry and oral health update 

15 June 2026 

A focus on children's oral health

This is reflected in the changes to commissioning of preventive measures and encouraging the implementation of essential guidance, such as Delivering Better Oral Health (DBOH), into NHS care delivery. 

To better support children’s oral health, I am pleased to see the introduction of significant interventions to help boost prevention. These include the introduction of a new course of treatment specifically for fluoride varnish application, as well as the reclassification of fissure sealants from a band 1 to a band 2 treatment. These changes will help to remove barriers to embed prevention in our population and align care delivery with best practice. 

Join our webinars

For more details on the changes, please see the article below about fluoride varnish and fissure sealants. Register for our Chief Dental Officer’s webinar at 6-7.30pm on Wednesday 24 June, where we will hear from dental care professionals who regularly provide prevention treatment. In addition, we will discuss anxiety management for children, as well as how to better support primary care colleagues when providing paediatric dental care. This will be followed by a Q&A session with the speakers. 

On another note, new regulations for complex care and denture modifications are expected to come into force on 23 June – subject to parliamentary processes. We will be hosting a webinar on Wednesday 17 June from 6-7.30pm, to outline the changes and provide clinical and practical information for delivery. Oral health professionals and commissioners are invited to join the webinar via this link. 

Kind regards,
Jason Wong

Fluoride varnish and fissure sealants – delivering evidence-based prevention 

As part of recent NHS dentistry contract reforms, fluoride varnish can now be applied between regular examinations, on a flexible, risk-based schedule aligned with DBOH guidance. Children with good oral health may be seen for fluoride varnish application every 6 months and those assessed to be higher clinical risk may be seen every 3 months. Suitably trained dental nurses are able to deliver this treatment, with further information provided by NHS Business Services Authority. By expanding the role of the wider oral healthcare team in providing evidence-based interventions, we aim to boost efficiency and clinical capacity.  

Further changes to encourage primary prevention delivery include the re-categorisation of all fissure sealants from a band 1 to a band 2 course of treatment. Colleagues providing fissure sealants will be able to claim either 3 or 5 UDAs (Units of Dental Activity), depending on the number of teeth being treated. These reforms acknowledge the clinical time and complexity in placing sealants, with remuneration to better reflect the work involved. Further clinical guidance will be published to support this change. 

Smile Month celebrates 50 prevention campaigns 

This year, Smile Month is celebrating its 50th campaign, marking five decades of helping people across the UK improve their oral health through prevention, education and healthier everyday habits. Originally launched as Smile '77 in 1977, the campaign has grown into the UK's largest oral health awareness initiative, bringing together dental teams, schools, community groups and healthcare organisations to encourage positive behaviours that support lifelong oral health. 

To coincide with the milestone, the Oral Health Foundation has published a new report, Oral Health: From Treatment to Prevention – 50 years of Smile Month and the future of oral health in the UK, exploring how prevention has shaped oral health over the last half-century and the opportunities for the future. 

The report highlights the role that evidence-based public health measures have played in improving oral health, including the use of fluoride toothpaste, supervised toothbrushing programmes, dietary advice, and actions to reduce sugar consumption. It also looks ahead to the next decade, in which prevention, integrated care, and wider use of the dental team are expected to play an increasingly important role. 

Dr Rachael England, Head of Policy and Advocacy at the Oral Health Foundation, said: "Smile Month has spent 50 campaigns helping people understand that good oral health starts with prevention. The habits established in childhood can last a lifetime, making early intervention one of the most powerful tools we have for improving oral health and reducing inequalities.

"We've made enormous progress over the last five decades, but too many children still experience preventable oral disease. The future of oral health must continue to focus on prevention, education and giving every child the best possible start".

The Oral Health Foundation has also launched the Smile Month Prevention Pledge, inviting individuals, organisations and policymakers to support practical action that helps improve oral health for future generations. 

Supporting autistic children’s oral health 

​​​​The British Society of Paediatric Dentistry (BSPD), in collaboration with Jam Up! and Brush DJ and supported by Henry Schein’s global corporate citizenship programme Henry Schein Cares, has launched two new videos to support the oral health of autistic children and young people.    

Many autistic children find the sensations and sounds of toothbrushing difficult and visiting the dentist can cause anxiety. The new videos aim to dispel myths, reduce fear, and help parents and carers prioritise the most important steps to support a child’s oral health. Developed collaboratively by experts in children’s oral health, specialists in autism and parents of autistic children, the films offer practical, reassuring guidance for families.

Dr Ella Roberts, a dentist at Carriage Works Lostwithiel Dental in Cornwall, has played a key role in this project and its videos:

• Teeth Brushing at Home: A step-by-step guide for parents, carers, and children and young people on how to look after autistic children’s teeth and gums at home, including sensory aware strategies and achievable goals. 
• At the Dentist: A walkthrough of what to expect during a dental visit, outlining the ‘reasonable adjustments’ families can request to help appointments run more smoothly.  

Dr Oosh Devalia, BSPD President, said: "Every child deserves the chance to grow up free from pain and with a healthy mouth, and that includes autistic children and those with special educational needs. These new videos give families clear, compassionate and practical guidance to help make toothbrushing and dental visits more predictable and less stressful. By working closely with parents, autism specialists and our digital partners, we have created resources that meet children where they are and support them to thrive".

Help eliminate viral hepatitis in England

Hepatitis C can be cured with a simple course of tablets. Anyone in England over the age of 18 can order a free NHS at home test kit for hepatitis C.

Take action today: 
•    Complete free CPD-accredited training (Register for the training when prompted to receive your certificate) 
•    Order free patient resources: email connect.HepCULater@mpft.nhs.uk  
•    Share materials with colleagues 

Hep C U Later, part of the NHS Addictions Provider Alliance and commissioned by NHS England’s Viral Hepatitis Elimination Team, supports this mission through awareness, resources, training, and frontline engagement. 

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