Oral health made accessible to all
Team Smile aims to raise awareness and promote a positive dental experience so that everyone, including adults and children with learning disabilities who often face extra barriers to care can maintain good oral health.
Introduction
Introducing some of the people Team Smile have met along the way. They help us to understand why raising awareness and providing communication support can make a difference to people with learning disabilities.
Video Guides
A dental experience can be a positive one, and with the help of some simple tools, Makaton and voice overs, we have developed five dental procedure videos to help support people with learning disabilities.
Videos
Audio Description Videos
Many people have a reluctance or anxiety about visiting the dental team for examinations and treatment, and this can lead to poor oral health and increased dental problems. These videos can help to make your dental visit a positive experience.
Many people have a reluctance or anxiety about visiting the dental team for examinations and treatment, and this can lead to poor oral health and increased dental problems. These videos can help to make your dental visit a positive experience.
Many people have a reluctance or anxiety about visiting the dental team for examinations and treatment, and this can lead to poor oral health and increased dental problems. These videos can help to make your dental visit a positive experience.
Many people have a reluctance or anxiety about visiting the dental team for examinations and treatment, and this can lead to poor oral health and increased dental problems. These videos can help to make your dental visit a positive experience.
Many people have a reluctance or anxiety about visiting the dental team for examinations and treatment, and this can lead to poor oral health and increased dental problems. These videos can help to make your dental visit a positive experience.
Many people have a reluctance or anxiety about visiting the dental team for examinations and treatment, and this can lead to poor oral health and increased dental problems. These videos can help to make your dental visit a positive experience.
Many people have a reluctance or anxiety about visiting the dental team for examinations and treatment, and this can lead to poor oral health and increased dental problems. These videos can help to make your dental visit a positive experience.
Many people have a reluctance or anxiety about visiting the dental team for examinations and treatment, and this can lead to poor oral health and increased dental problems. These videos can help to make your dental visit a positive experience.
Many people have a reluctance or anxiety about visiting the dental team for examinations and treatment, and this can lead to poor oral health and increased dental problems. These videos can help to make your dental visit a positive experience.
Many people have a reluctance or anxiety about visiting the dental team for examinations and treatment, and this can lead to poor oral health and increased dental problems. These videos can help to make your dental visit a positive experience.
Download fact sheets
In just one click you can access our toolkit, giving you all the information you need to help make your experience a positive one.
Download our easy guides to your tablet or phone, or print off and keep them with you every step of the way.
Click on the links below to download our fact sheets, prompt cards and a glossary full of useful words.
Who we are
Team Smile is a collaboration made up from the North East and North Cumbria Multi-Professional Dental Education team at NHS England, together with the British Dental Association, the Makaton Charity, IT Matters, MiXit and Positive Choices. They have come together to show that a dental visit can be a positive experience for everyone including people with learning disabilities, who often face extra barriers to care. The aim is to help people who are anxious about a dental visit, by providing information about different dental treatments using videos with Makaton signs and symbols, audio descriptive videos for visually impaired people, and a range of resources including Makaton prompt cards and factsheets to support communication.
Rachel Lish, Training Programme Director for Oral Health Improvement & Dental Care Professionals, and Linda Lacey, Programme Support Officer for Oral Health from NHS England.
Workforce Training & Education NHS England
We are now part of the new NHS England. Our purpose remains to work with partners to plan, recruit, educate and train the health workforce. Formerly Health Education England.
Charlotte Waite, Director BDA Scotland from the British Dental Association.
We are the voice of dentists and dental students in the UK. Bringing dentists together, we support our members through advice, education and represent their interests.
Find out moreAmanda Glennon, Makaton Ambassador Tutor from the Makaton Charity.
Makaton is a language programme that combines signs, symbols and speech to empower anyone living with learning or communication difficulties to understand and be understood. Bringing positive transformation to millions of lives.
Find out moreGary, Jayd, Guy and Emma from MiXit Performing Arts Theatre Group.
MiXiT gives opportunities to those who have learning disabilities or special needs to get involved in high quality drama, film and performance.
Find out moreHelen Laverty, MBE Professional Lead for Learning Disability Nursing at the University of Nottingham and facilitator of the Positive Choices Network.
Positive Choices is a community of co-creation, equality and inclusion for those with a learning disability and student nurses studying for a qualification in disability nursing.
Find out moreAmanda Glennon, Owner of Inclusive Teaching Matters.
Inclusive Teaching (IT) Matters is a not-for-profit company with aims to improve life outcomes of people with communication difficulties.
Find out moreScott Watkin, BEM, Head of Engagement, SeeAbility.
We specialise in supporting people who have learning disabilities or autism - who may also have sight loss - to live ambitious lives and achieve things they never thought possible.
Find out moreGet in touch
We know there will be many people using our website who have learning disabilities, so it’s really important to us that we strive to ensure your needs are met and all information is accessible. If you are finding difficulty accessing some information, don’t hesitate to contact us.