The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has been asked by the Department of Health (DH) to develop public health guidance for local authorities on oral health needs assessments and community-based oral health promotion programmes, in particular for vulnerable groups at risk of poor oral health.

NICE has contracted Bazian Ltd  to review evidence relating to the following questions:

• What are the most effective community-based programmes and interventions to promote, improve, and maintain the oral health of a local community?
• What are the most effective approaches for groups of people who are disadvantaged and at high risk of poor oral health?
• What are the barriers to, and facilitators of, implementing oral health promotion programmes and interventions (including user and provider perspectives)?

The evidence review will examine the impact of community-based oral health promotion programmes and interventions on changes in oral health (for example, changes in the incidence and prevalence of oral cancers, dental caries and periodontal disease) and changes in modifiable risk factors (for example the use of fluoride supplements, oral hygiene practices and frequency of visits to the dentist). It will consider user and provider views on barriers and facilitators to programme implementation.

We are therefore seeking relevant evidence from researchers, practitioners and other organisations working in the field that is:

• Published since 1993 or on-going research that relates to the areas outlined above and to the following populations whose social circumstances or lifestyle place them at greater risk of poor oral health or make it difficult for them to access dental services. For example this may include:
  • Children aged 5 and under
  • People on a low income older people
  • People who are homeless or who frequently change the location where they live (for example, traveller communities)
  • People from some black and minority ethnic groups (for example, those of South Asian origin)
  • People who chew tobacco
  • People with mobility difficulties or a learning disability and who live independently in the community.
• Evidence may be in published studies in journals, texts or monographs or in unpublished reports.
• Based on quantitative, qualitative or mixed methods research.
• Examines the effects of community based oral health promotion programmes and interventions that aim to: (i) increase access to fluoride; (ii) improve oral hygiene; (iii) improve diet; or (iv) increase access to dentists.

Please note that the following activities are not covered as part of this review:

• Water fluoridation.
• Prevention information, advice and treatment provided by dental health practitioners to their patients.
• Oral health promotion and access to dental treatment in residential or care settings (including nursing and residential care homes for children, young people and adults).

This call for evidence is taking place between 31 May and 28 June 2013

Please use the relevant form from the website and send any suggestions by 5pm on 28 June 2013 to the NICE Public Health Team (oralhealthlocalauthorities@nice.org.uk).    

Please note that the following material is not eligible for consideration:

(i)    Promotional material.

(ii)    Undocumented assertions of effectiveness.

(iii)   Opinion pieces.

(iv)   Forms with attachments of published material, or hard copy of published material.

For further information on the project, please visit our website.

We look forward to receiving information on this and thank you in advance for your help.

Instructions for Published material

Please send full reference details (which are to include author/s, title, date, journal or publication details including volume and issue number and page numbers) - not a PDF/WORD attachment or hard copy - using this form by 5pm on 28 June 2013 to - oralhealthlocalauthorities@nice.org.uk.

Instructions for Unpublished material

If you are aware of any trials/ongoing research relevant to our questions and focus populations which are in progress please could you help us to identify that information by providing relevant information such as a weblink to the project or other means of identifying the work as appropriate.   Please use this form to send in details of any relevant evidence by 5pm on 28 June 2013 to -oralhealthlocalauthorities@nice.org.uk.

Academic or commercial in-confidence material

If you wish to submit academic in confidence material (i.e. written but not yet published) or commercial in confidence material (i.e. internal documentation), please could you highlight which sections are confidential, for example by using the highlighter function in Word. Such content will not be made public. Please refer to section 4.4 of the Process guide for further information on submissions of confidential material. Please send any relevant evidence by 5pm on 28 June 2013 to NICE Public Health Team - oralhealthlocalauthorities@nice.org.uk.