Blue Kite Academy Trust has announced a new partnership with Abbey Meads Dental Practice to provide vital dental screenings for children in their schools.
This initiative comes in response to a concerning report released in July 2024 which revealed alarming statistics about children's oral health in Swindon.
The report stated that children in Swindon undergo hospital tooth extractions at nearly three times the rate of those in other parts of the South-West. 1,045 children and young people per 100,000 in Swindon require extractions, compared to just 376 per 100,000 across the rest of the region.
Determined to tackle this urgent issue, Mr. and Mrs. Iravani, owners of Abbey Meads Dental Practice in North Swindon, are committed to improving children's oral health through early intervention. By collaborating with Public Health England, they hope to influence the development of long-term dental screening initiatives in primary schools.
Abbey Meads Dental Practice is providing a team of skilled dentists and dental therapists for each school screening, supported by their practice manager. This programme is entirely funded and supported by Mr. and Mrs. Iravani and their team, demonstrating their dedication to improving children's access to essential dental care.
Blue Kite Academy Trust is deeply appreciative of their generosity and commitment to our children.
Gary Evans, CEO of Blue Kite Academy Trust, said: "The impact of this project on our children has been extraordinary. Many children who might not otherwise receive dental care are now benefiting from early intervention. This initiative is making a real difference to their health and wellbeing."
The Head Teacher at Robert Le Kyng Primary School said: "Some of our children had never seen a dentist before. The team from the practice were very friendly and put our children at ease. It was a great opportunity to talk to our children about the importance of looking after your teeth!"
The Head Teacher at Ferndale Primary School said: “Every child deserves a healthy smile! A huge thank you to Abbey Meads Dental Practice for giving our children the opportunity to have their teeth checked.
“The impact is already being felt with some of our children now newly registered with a dental practice! Together, we can fight tooth decay and build brighter, healthier futures.”
Following school-based screenings, parents are notified if their child requires a full dental examination. They are encouraged to book an appointment with their regular dental practice or register with one if they have not already done so. However, recognising the difficulties many families face in securing NHS dental care, Abbey Meads Dental Practice has committed to providing follow-up treatment for any child in need, regardless of their registration status.
The Head Teacher at Catherine Wayte Primary School said: “The enthusiasm and dedication shown by Abbey Meads Dental Practice to make this happen was inspiring to witness. A large number of our families chose to take up the offer of free screening, with many of them reporting that they had been previously unable to access a dentist for their child.
“As a result, through this project, many children received a warm and friendly introduction to dentistry in a safe and familiar environment, along with the opportunity to register with the practice for the future. Being able to support the project was a great privilege and I would like to thank everyone involved at Abbey Meads Dental Practice for making it happen.”
The Head Teacher at Covingham Park Primary School said: “One of our children fell in the play park and sheared her adult front tooth in half. In discussion with the parent, we discovered that the child did not have a dentist. With support from Blue Kite Trust and Abbey Meads dentist we were able to get the child seen very quickly and they have been able to repair the child's tooth.
“The Mum is delighted with the care and support from Abbey Meads dentist, who have not only been able to fix the adult tooth but have also been able to support the child with a tooth brushing regime and other dental issues.
“Abbey Meads have also helped this Mum by registering the other children in the family and arranging to see them as well. What an amazing service they are doing for child dental health.”
To support long-term improvements in children's oral health, with the support of Blue Kite Trust schools, Abbey Meads Dental Practice is collating anonymised data from the school-based screenings. This information will be shared with NHS Bath and North-East Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire, with the aim of influencing future NHS dental policies and improving access to care for all children.
A parent said: "Both boys were comfortable with the screening and the dental nurses and the report was as I expected, we all see a dentist regularly and extra screenings like this are great to help reenforce the importance of dental hygiene."
Amelia, age 9, said: "I was a bit nervous, but the dentists were really nice, and they showed me how to brush my teeth properly. Now I make sure to do it every morning and night!"
By Easter 2025, children in over ten schools across Swindon will have had the opportunity to take part in this project, with eight more schools scheduled to participate before the end of the academic year. Over five thousand children will have been offered school-based dental screening by the end of the year.
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