Introduction
The dental team has long been encouraged by the UK
Government to educate their patients in the surgery setting
in order to promote good oral health, and prevent dental
disease. This article defines ‘oral health education’, and
reviews comments that have been made about its practice
by dental care professionals (DCPs). The policy framework
for oral health education is examined, and national
guidance, current initiatives and suggestions for the way
forward are discussed. The emphasis throughout is on
the advice available to the dental team on how to support
patients to change their behaviour, rather than on shifts in
the scientific basis of the content of that advice.
Major improvements in the oral health of adults and
children have been achieved over the past 50 years, and the
role that DCPs have played in this must be acknowledged.