Heidi Marshall, the new chair of NASDAL, has announced the launch of the 2023 NASDAL Dental Check by One (DCby1) Practice of the Year award.

The award seeks to recognise a practice that has successfully introduced the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry (BSPD) Dental Check by One into their practice. The initiative aims to increase the number of children who access dental care aged 0-2 years, by campaigning to get infants into a dentist’s chair by their first birthday.

Established in 2018, the award seeks to highlight excellence in the provision of oral care and prevention in children and showcase the opportunity to achieve a real business improvement. Particular credit is given to applications from dental practices with evidence supporting their contribution to the overall health of their community.

The award will be presented by CDO England, Sara Hurley, at the BDIA Dental Showcase in Docklands ExCeL on March 24, 2023.

Heidi Marshall, NASDAL chair, said, “We very much look forward to hearing how the entrants have reached out to their communities and engaged with families. We know that doing the right thing makes good business sense, but we should be clear that we are not just looking for large numbers of patients. We want to see those practices that have been creative in their approach.”

Professor Claire Stevens CBE, spokesperson for BSPD added, “We appreciate that the last few years have not been easy for dental practices – however, the importance and impact of reaching those responsible for the oral health of babies in their families or care continue to be crucial. We know that DCby1 can make a difference and we were heartened to see that within as little as two years since its launch in June 2017, we could see that there had already been an improvement with more children aged 0-2 accessing a dentist during that period. We appreciate that the success is partly due to many dental practices getting on board with the campaign and we are so grateful for the hard work of dental practices up and down the UK who support the DCby1 initiative.

“So, I would urge all surgeries that have made particular efforts with the youngest in their communities to enter the award and let us recognise and celebrate your efforts!”

Practices interested in entering the 2023 NASDAL DCby1 award, should visit https://www.nasdal.org.uk/award where they will find all the relevant details and can register. All entries must be submitted before 5 pm, February 10, 2023. The winning practice will receive £1000, a trophy, and the right to use the NASDAL Dental Check by One Practice of the Year 2023 title.

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