Carrying endorsements from the British Dental Association (BDA) and the NSPCC, the fact sheet, which can also be used as a poster, was co-developed with support from the UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) Child Friendly Cities & Communities programme.

The aim is to bring clarity for professional colleagues in dentistry, and beyond – to anyone who works with children and young people – so that they can feel confident in their understanding of the rights that they must uphold for the youngest in our society.

Printed versions of the fact sheet are being issued with the British Dental Journal (BDJ) in June with the suggestion that dental practices may want to use them to prompt discussion amongst their teams or to put them up as posters on a staff noticeboard. Jenny has written an opinion article to accompany the fact sheet which will also appear in the BDJ issue out on 9 June 2023.  This article in the journal explores the implications for clinical teams.

Additional support for BSPD’s Rights from the Start initiative

In addition to the BDA, NSPCC and UNICEF UK, BSPD is delighted to have further support of the Rights from the Start messaging from the following organisations:

1. British Association of Dental Nurses (BADN)
2. British Association of Dental Therapists (BADT)
3. British Orthodontic Society (BOS)
4. British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy (BSDHT)
5. British Society for Oral & Dental Research (BSODR)
6. British Society of Special Care Dentistry (BSSCD)
7. Global Child Dental Fund (GCDF)
8. Society of British Dental Nurses (SBDN)

Mrs Jenny Harris, President of BSPD and Consultant in Community Paediatric Dentistry, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, who conceived the Rights from the Start initiative said, “It’s crucial that inequalities in children’s oral health at a population level are tackled and tackled fast. Change is needed soon. Children desperately need far-reaching solutions to uphold their right to the best dental care possible. We are, as yet, a long way off that.

“But there are also things we can do in our day-to-day clinical practice to respect and uphold individual children’s rights. That’s what I have focused on in my article in the British Dental Journal – things like providing information children can understand, listening to their views and supporting them to make decisions.”

Dr Fiona Gilchrist, Senior Lecturer in Paediatric Dentistry at The University of Sheffield, who chaired the organising committee for BSPD’s 2022 children’s rights-themed conference in Sheffield said, “We have a duty to advocate for children to have equitable access to dental services – including specialist care if required and treatment under general anaesthesia when that is the best option. It is a child’s right, but at the moment it is little more than a postcode lottery whether these things are available locally.”

Eddie Crouch, Chair, BDA said, “A healthy start in life is a fundamental right for all young people, and oral health is too often the missing piece. From the outset, the British Dental Association (BDA) have supported BSPD’s important work on Rights from the Start.  This profession has a key role to play, to come together to support and uphold these rights.”

Sarah Handley, Child Friendly Cities & Communities Programme Manager, UNICEF UK, said, “Oral and dental care professionals play a vital role in helping to uphold human rights for all children. Taking a child rights-based approach to oral and dental health means ensuring not only that children and young people have equitable access to good quality healthcare, but that they are able to actively participate in decisions that affect them, and that their best interests are at heart.  We welcome this initiative from BSPD and are very pleased to support it.”

Mrs Catherine Simmons, practice owner at Moreton Road Dental Practice, Oxford said, “I am always looking out for interesting topics for our weekly team meetings. We’ve never looked specifically at children’s rights before, so the poster and article will be ideal to start a discussion and think through what it means for our patients.”

Ends

For further information contact:  Kate Clark, kate@kateclarkpr.co.uk / 07990 525639

Notes to editors

• For more information, visit https://www.bspd.co.uk/Rights-from-the-Start
• Download the fact sheet (poster):
  • A4 size pdf
  • A3 size pdf
• Cartoon artwork by Harry Venning harryvenning.co.uk
• If your organisation would like to support Rights from the Start, please contact media@bspd.co.uk

About BSPD

• The British Society of Paediatric Dentistry (BSPD) has an established place in the dental profession thanks to the dedication of dentists stretching back 70 years. BSPD’s mission is to improve the oral health of children and young people. The Society’s executive committee provides strategic direction in line with our 3-year plan and oversees our engagement with other special interest groups and political decision makers. BSPD is now in a strong position to campaign for and implement improvements in children’s oral health in the UK.
• BSPD membership has grown steadily over the last few years with a broadened profile. Anyone in the dental profession with an interest in children’s oral health is welcome to join the Society.  There are full and associate membership categories which encompass our growing groups of members. These include dentists, dental care professionals (DCPs), dental and DCP students, international members and all members of the dental team. We are clear that you do not need to have a dental qualification to be a member of BSPD, just a genuine passion for children’s dentistry. Discover more at https://www.bspd.co.uk