Written question WQ89674

Health boards are responsible for providing local health services, such as free dental care for children. In cases where capacity is not available through a high street dental practice, health boards can arrange for children to be seen by the community dental service.

We are working to reform dentistry to make improvements for patients and the profession. This includes working with practices to improve access, experience and quality of dental care. System reform prioritises preventative care, which aims to provide patients, including children, with the tools and information to maintain good oral hygiene habits for life. We are also committed to increasing new patient access as part of dental reform. Nearly 183,000 new patients received a full course of treatment during 2022-23 and around 40% of these were children.

Children are also supported with their oral health through the Designed to Smile (D2S) programme, which operates in all health boards and works with families and young children aged 0 to 7. There are two distinct elements to the programme:

• A preventative programme for children from birth. This involves a wide range of professionals, including health visitors and other early years services. The aim is to help start good habits by giving advice to families with young children, providing toothbrushes and toothpaste and encouraging going to a dental practice before a child's first birthday.

• A preventative programme for nursery and primary school children. This involves the delivery of nursery and school-based toothbrushing and fluoride varnish programmes for children to help protect teeth against decay.

We are working with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board to pilot a mobile dental unit at Ysgol Y Moelwen in Blaenau Ffestiniog. This will give all children at the school an opportunity to receive a check up and any dental treatment needed.

If this trial is successful it will be an exciting opportunity to deliver dental care directly to schools in some of the most deprived areas of the country, helping to reduce pressure on general and community dental services.