The current status of dental health education in the training of midwives and health visitors.

In some areas of the United Kingdom, the dental health of young children is deteriorating, with levels of disease reverting to those of ten years ago. The recent enquiry into the education and training of personnel auxiliary to dentistry recognised that other health care staff working in primary care have an important role to play in the education of parents with young children and should be trained accordingly. This study sought to investigate, by questionnaire survey, the current status of dental health in the education of midwives and health visitors. It was found that the majority of courses in health visiting but only two-thirds of those in midwifery now include dental health in their curricula. The use of inappropriately qualified tutors may place these professionals at a disadvantage in providing advice on the prevention of oral disease to parents and prospective parents.