L Timms1, C Hume2, V Wilson2, L McClean3, Z Marshman4, H Zaitoun2. 1. Paediatric Dental Department, Charles Clifford Dental Hospital, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Sheffield, UK. ljhtimms1@sheffield.ac.uk. 2. Paediatric Dental Department, Charles Clifford Dental Hospital, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Sheffield, UK. 3. Paediatric Dental Department, University of Manchester Dental Hospital, Manchester Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK. 4. Unit of Oral Health, Dentistry and Society, School of Clinical Dentistry, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Dental caries is still common in children in the UK despite many available preventative interventions. Application of topical fluoride varnish can reduce caries experience. National and international guidance recommends at least twice-yearly application of topical fluoride varnish, however guidance is not always followed. This project aimed to first identify the proportion of patients receiving fluoride varnish by their primary care dental practitioner prior to their referral to a secondary care service and subsequently increase this rate by introducing an intervention. METHODS: The intervention required the referring practitioner to document the date of which topical fluoride was applied prior to referral. Referrals without this information were rejected. Data were collected pre and post this change in policy to ascertain fluoride application rates. Parents and children were questioned about the frequency of application, and referral forms were reviewed for practitioner-reported application. RESULTS: Topical fluoride application rates improved by 19% points for patient-reported application, and 31% points for practitioner-reported application. The biggest increase in application rate was in the cohort of patients receiving 6-monthly fluoride application. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that a simple intervention, mandating that primary care dental practitioners record the most recent application of topical fluoride before referring a patient to secondary care, can improve the rates of topical fluoride varnish application in the UK.
PURPOSE: Dental caries is still common in children in the UK despite many available preventative interventions. Application of topical fluoride varnish can reduce caries experience. National and international guidance recommends at least twice-yearly application of topical fluoride varnish, however guidance is not always followed. This project aimed to first identify the proportion of patients receiving fluoride varnish by their primary care dental practitioner prior to their referral to a secondary care service and subsequently increase this rate by introducing an intervention. METHODS: The intervention required the referring practitioner to document the date of which topical fluoride was applied prior to referral. Referrals without this information were rejected. Data were collected pre and post this change in policy to ascertain fluoride application rates. Parents and children were questioned about the frequency of application, and referral forms were reviewed for practitioner-reported application. RESULTS: Topical fluoride application rates improved by 19% points for patient-reported application, and 31% points for practitioner-reported application. The biggest increase in application rate was in the cohort of patients receiving 6-monthly fluoride application. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that a simple intervention, mandating that primary care dental practitioners record the most recent application of topical fluoride before referring a patient to secondary care, can improve the rates of topical fluoride varnish application in the UK.
Authors: L M D Macpherson; G E Ball; L Brewster; B Duane; C-L Hodges; W Wright; W Gnich; J Rodgers; D R McCall; S Turner; D I Conway Journal: Br Dent J Date: 2010-07-24 Impact factor: 1.626