The British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry (BASCD) welcomes the publication of the discussion document “Choosing the right ingredients - The future for Food in Scotland.� A reply from Colwyn M Jones.

The British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry urges the government to take positive action to promote access to a healthy diet for all and to remove the influence of commercial companies on young children through banning the advertising of foods high in sugar, salt and fat. Whilst our prime concerns are with the unacceptably high levels of dental decay in some groups we see the need for joint working on a common risk factor approach to improving diet and hence oral and general health.

Measuring the impact of oral problems on the quality of life among adults.

Information about the dental health of children throughout Great Britain is widely available and robust. In contrast, data about adults and about the impact on the quality of life of oral problems is less well covered. The decennial surveys of adult dental health are useful but much of the information cannot be analysed below large regional level and the rest only by synthesis.
This has resulted in shortfalls of information to assist with planning local services within PCTs and a number of steps have been taken during 2006 /07 to explore a variety of methods of collecting relevant data about adult dental health, impact on quality of life and service use. Download the survey report.

In view of the volume of materials now distributed for consultation, the work involved in preparing a suitable response and the tight timescales often given for feedback, BASCD Council needs to prioritise which materials require a response and have an agreed procedure to follow.

Further details ...

BASCD wishes to inform its members that it is a formal nominating body for National Clinical Excellence awards for consultant members of the Association of any specialty, not just Dental Public Health. If you are applying for a National CEA and wish to request a citation from BASCD as part of the process, please send your completed CEA form to: David Thomas, Hon Secretary, Consultants in Dental Public Health Group, david.thomas@nphs.wales.nhs.uk

For further information about the process go to the following link: http://www.advisorybodies.doh.gov.uk/accea/

To Mr Harald Schmidt, Nuffield Council on Bioethics.

The British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry welcomes your consultation paper on ethical issues in public health... The Association has specific interest in your section on the supplementation of food and water...