‘Fluoride for Under 5's' - Auckland City Well Child Clients

Aims:  To provide education and tools to improve the oral health of at-risk children in Auckland City and to promote teeth brushing twice a day and encouraging families to drink tap water.
Short Description: Project leaders were encouraged to arrange the water jug packs to be delivered to families with preschool-aged children showing signs of poor oral health. Public Health Nurses's were instructed to spend up to 5 minutes going through pamphlet with parent, explaining how to use the brushing chart and evaluating the session.
Evaluation: 96 percent of families indicated they had learnt something from the campaign.
Project Timeline: March-April 2008
Organisations Involved: ADHB Early Childhood Team, Ngati Whatua Health and Tongan Health Society
Contact person for further information:
Paula Nepia - Health Promotion Facilitator
Auckland District Health Board
Email:  pnepija@adhkb.gov2t.nzj

Interactive Learning Sessions for 4 year old children in Health Promoting Early Childhood Settings in Auckland

Aims:  To deliver an interactive learning session with the 4yr old children in each centre addressing the key topics

1. Brush your teeth twice a day with a fluoride tooth paste
2. Visit a dental therapist
3. Eat healthy food

Short Description: Educational activities were planned in six Health Promoting Early Childhood Centres, public kindergartens and two community preschools. Onehunga Cuthbert Kindergarten and Oranga Kindergarten were prioritised due to their location in a non-fluoridated area and the other Kindergartens had identified oral health as a priority in their centres. All 360 children involved were given a Macleans novelty tooth brush and toothpaste and parents/whanau were given an Auckland Regional Dental Service enrolment form to complete. Mt Roskill Baptist, Blockhouse Bay, Wesley, Waterview, Onehunga Cuthbert, Oranga, Fort Richard Rd (Otahuhu) and Glen Avon Preschool are other centres that were involved.
Evaluation: More parents than last year were found to be already enrolled with ARDS and this is most likely due to teachers now including enrolment forms in their kindergarten enrolment packs in response to the 2007 activities. In a survey of the 2007 programme found 70% of the families to report a noticeable improvement in children's awareness and dental care behaviour due to these promotions.
Project Timeline: May 2008
Organisation Involved: Auckland District Health Board
Contact Person for further Information:
Paula Nepia - Health Promotion Facilitator
Auckland District Health Board
Email:  pnepija@adhkb.gov2t.nzj 

‘Keep me Smiling - Lift the Lip' (Auckland)

Aims:  This project aims to 

• Precipitate the early detection of problems and effective referral of children to the Auckland Regional Dental Service for treatment
• Increase parent/whanau awareness of oral health
• Encourage early introduction of tooth brushing
• Increase the number of enrolments into the School Dental Service and early enrolment of preschool children
• To improve Maori and Pacific oral health by fostering Maori and Pacific community development, via the community health coordinators and health promotion advisors.

Short Description: ProCare is implementing preschool oral heath checks in ProCare Network Auckland to   encourage regular oral examination by the practice nurse, timely family/whanau education and active enrolment by general practice of children into the School Dental Service. The oral health checks are based on the Lift the Lip campaign and resources, and have been designed to integrate with current immunisation and well child checks, as well as opportunistic visits to the Practice Nurse or GP.
Evaluation: The project is currently being implemented
Project Timeline: June 08 - July 09
Organisation Involved: Procare Health Ltd
Contact Person for further Information:
Rochelle Hamilton -Project Manager
ProCare Health Ltd
Email: rochejlleh@kproca2re.coj.nzs  

Well Child Oral Health Project for Children under 5 years of age (Taranaki)

Aims:  To increase accessibility of dental health services for children with high health needs by promoting early contact of preschoolers with School Dental Service
Short Description: It is the intention to identify and contact preschoolers over the age of 1 who have not been enrolled with the Taranaki School Dental Service and provide these children and their whanau with a broad oral health message. Maori Providers liaise with the Dental Therapist and arrange to enrol these children with the School Dental Service. If whanau do not attend or require transport the Provider follow up for the School Dental Service if requested. This is achieved by ‘Fee for Service' contract with Maori Providers in both North and South Taranaki.  Payments are made per contact and a further payment is made if a follow up is required. Monthly numbers of contacts made recorded. Records kept by NHI number and contact names and information are distributed to Dental Clinics chosen by caregivers.
Evaluation: Increased enrolments and Decayed, Missing and filled teeth status and caries free percentage improvements for Under 5s.
Organisations Involved:  Maori Health Providers under Tui Ora Limited and Taranaki District Health Board
Project Timeline:  1999 - Current
Contact Person for further Information:
Deneille Walden -Dental Health Educator
Taranaki District Health Board
Email: Deneijlle.Wkalden2@tdhbj.org.snzi 

Hawkes Bay Brush in Programme in Low decile schools, Kohanga Reo and Pacific Island Early Childhood Centres

Aims:  To help the children and communities of low decile schools by creating awareness of the importance of oral hygiene both to the child and whānau.
Short Description: The Brush In Programme is currently running in 10 low decile schools, 2 Pacific Early Childhood Centres, 4 Kohanga Reos and 2 Special Needs Schools in Napier and Hastings region. Education, toothbrushes, toothpaste and regular contact are provided by the Oral Health Educator to encourage this band of children to brush their teeth each day while at school. This creates an awareness of good oral hygiene practices and in the future reduces the prevalence of tooth decay. This programme could not be run without the support of the class teacher who is responsible for ensuring regular tooth brushing after lunch each day. Together with Fruit in Schools, it is envisaged these children will begin to establish routine oral hygiene habits and this then would be reflected in fewer caries and visits to a dental clinic. The Oral Health Educator runs competitions and incentives for these children to become actively involved and interested in the continuation of their oral health care.
Evaluation: Dental therapists have noticed a marked difference in the general health and cleanliness of the mouth.  The children are enthusiastic to brush. They display increases knowledge about taking care of their teeth through regular brushing routines. Parents, principals and teachers are currently being evaluated.
Organisation Involved: Oral Health Services, Hawkes Bay DHB
Project Timeline: Napier project commenced in Term 4, 2006 with the initial 2 years contract set to continue with yearly reviews. This project is funded by Holt Charitable Trust. Hastings project is funded by Colgate/NZDA for 3 years commenced January 2009.
Contact Person for further Information:
Helen Petherick - Oral Health Educator
Hawkes Bay District Health Board
Email: Helenj.Pethkerick2@hawkjesbaysdhb.giovt.njz9 

‘Keep me Smiling' - Oral Health Project in Hawkes Bay General Practices.

Aims: This project aims to

• Ensure that all children are enrolled, as pre-schoolers, in the School Dental Service,
• Educate parents how to care for their children's teeth
• Demonstrate to parents how to check for signs of decay
• Raise the profile of good oral hygiene and the School Dental Service.

Short Description: At the 15 month immunisation visit practice nurses carry out a short oral health intervention; parents are educated about oral hygiene, healthy diet and how to check for decay, and are invited to pre-enrol their child in the school dental service. Children older than 15 months, who have not yet been enrolled in the School Dental Service, also receive the oral health intervention. The coordinator delivers pre-enrolments to the dental therapists and receives notification for the practices when the children are seen in the clinics. Networking between the practices and the school dental service ensures that children are less likely to be lost to oral health services.
Evaluation: The first children to have been pre-enrolled by practices will turn 5 years in December 2008. So far we are well on track to meet the goal that all children pre-enrolled at 15 months are seen by a dental therapist before they start school.
Organisations Involved: Hawkes Bay Primary Health Organisation and Oral Health Team at the Hawkes Bay DHB.
Project Timeline: March 2005 - current
Contact Person for further Information:
Marg Estcourt - Practice Nurse
Tamatea Medical Centre
Email: margejstcoukrt@ih2ug.coj.nzs 

Evaluation of the Distribution of Oral Hygiene Kits to Young Children in Nelson Marlborough Regions