“The British Association of Dental Nurses (BADN) – the professional association and independent trade union for dental nurses in the UK - acknowledges and welcomes the ambition and positive intent behind the Fit for the Future: 10 Year NHS Health Plan for England – especially its emphasis on children’s oral health, prevention and multidisciplinary, neighbourhood-based care. Dental nurses make up the largest part of the oral health care workforce and are already embedded in school programmes, care homes, community clinics and outreach initiatives, often serving the very demographics this plan seeks to help.” says BADN President Preetee Hylton RDN.

“We are trained and qualified professionals, and we are regulated by the General Dental Council (GDC). Fluoride application on the prescription of a dentist and the provision of oral health education in the community is not an emerging trend or innovative in any way – many of us are already doing this, despite receiving little structural support, recognition and remuneration. With post-registration qualifications, dental nurses have an extended scope of practice as evidenced in the GDC’s Scope of Practice guidance document.

“The existing dental contract is designed solely around dentists, yet oral health care is delivered by an oral health team.  Any long-term NHS dental reform that fails to include the whole team, will fall short of its potential. Dental nurses cannot be asked to carry out more responsibility without improving their pay, their protection and the perception of their role by the public.

“This Plan refers vaguely to dental nurses leading “oral health education” but does not offer any commissioning framework, in terms of dental nurse-led prevention programmes (especially in areas of greatest need), and no funding for further training to support this. BADN would like to see further clarity and commitment to the backbone of oral health – dental nurses; if the NHS wants to build a resilient, prevention-led oral health system, it must support and invest in the entire oral health care team.

“The Plan speaks of innovation, equity and prevention – BADN welcomes the opportunity to discuss and work alongside various stakeholders and the government to ensure that dental nurses are not an afterthought but a valued and visible part of future oral healthcare, so that we all work cohesively to provide safe, effective, accessible and compassionate oral healthcare to all those in need.”