Nearly five years ago the Scottish Executive’s Action Plan for improving oral health and modernising NHS dental services in Scotland stated:

"Services should offer an opportunity for regular comprehensive assessment of oral health needs and for preventative care, advice and appropriate treatment."

Since that time the Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme team has developed a draft Comprehensive Oral Health Assessment for Primary Care.

The Symposium will discuss the development of the guideline, what it covers, and how could it help in clinical practice. Speakers will include members of the Oral Health Assessment Group who have developed the assessment document. The Symposium will give a comprehensive picture of how different aspects of the assessment process could contribute to a care pathway approach to patient care. There will be an emphasis on interaction and discussion throughout the morning session, which we hope will contribute to the development of the guideline.

After lunch there will be an opportunity to hear from some of Scotland’s young researchers about their work. Topics include teaching aids in primary schools, the DCP’s role, the Childsmile Programme, oral health training for carers, and orthodontic services, broadly subsumed within the two themes of public health and clinical practice.

Booking forms can be obtained at http://www.sdpbrn.org.uk or from Scottish Dental PBRN, c/o Dental Health Services Research Unit, The Mackenzie Building, Kirsty Semple Way, Dundee DD2 4BF. Email sdpbrn@cpse.dundee.ac.uk. CPD credits will be available.

Programme details