The Dental Public Health team provides leadership in developing and improving oral health intelligence and provides specialist advice and support to stakeholders. These include the Welsh Government, Health Boards, non-dental functions within Public Health Wales and other statutory bodies.
Our oral health intelligence function is described in the Welsh Health Circular for Dental Public Health [WHC (2021) 032]. We are responsible for the design, conduct and delivery of the Dental Epidemiology Programme for Wales, working alongside the Welsh Oral Health Information Unit. This determines the level and impact of dental disease on 5-year-olds, 12-year-olds and adult cohorts. The information generated is critical to informing Welsh Government’s dental policy on dental services and oral health, the on-going dental contract reform programme and helps to guide local dental service planning.
Welsh Oral Health Information Unit https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/research/explore/research-units-old/welsh-oral-health-information-unit.
The oral health intelligence function also determines inequities in the provision and utilisation of NHS dental services and the impact of poor oral health on general health and well-being across the life-course. This information should be helpful for health boards in their local dental service planning and inform Welsh Government’s dental policy on dental services and oral health.
Welsh Government Statistics NHS dental services: https://gov.wales/nhs-dental-services
StatsWales General Dental Services: https://statswales.gov.wales/Catalogue/Health-and-Social-Care/General-Dental-Services
We report annually on the number of general anaesthesia dental procedures carried out on children aged 0-17 in Wales. Child Dental General Anaesthetics in Wales 2019-2020
Child dental general anaesthetics annual reports | GOV.WALES
Analysis of oral and pharyngeal cancer rates in Wales August 2023
Referrals for the paediatric management of tooth decay from primary care
Oral health of 5 year old children in Wales 2022-2023: Summary. Technical report Welsh Oral Health Information Unit - Research - Cardiff University. National infographic
Picture of Oral Health 2023 - Percentage of 5 year olds who have had tooth decay
Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board
Hywel Dda University Health Board
Last updated: 29/01/2024