The Yorkshire Coast is facing a crisis in child dentistry, with many families struggling to access NHS dental care.
But local authorities say they're taking action, with a range of initiatives aimed at improving children's oral health.
Dr Gill Kelly, Consultant in Public Health, explained that while the ICB holds the contracts for dentistry, public health teams are working on preventative measures:
This focus on prevention aims to reduce the need for costly and invasive dental work later in life. The PAT (Prevention, Access and Treatment) initiative is also making a difference:
The ICB is also working hard to recruit more dentists and is targeting schools in deprived areas where oral health tends to be poorer. One of the most significant steps has been the introduction of child-only contracts. This initiative addresses the problem of NHS contracts being handed back by dental practices, ensuring that children can still access NHS dental treatment.
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