Abstract
This study was based on the oral health of Looked After Children (LAC) in Greater Manchester. Characteristics including age, ethnic background alongside educational and healthcare outcomes were introduced as basic principles regarding LAC. The aim of this study was to comment on the oral health status of LAC in foster care, and to analyse if the improvement of oral health was dependant on duration of time in care. A questionnaire based approach was adopted for the purpose of this study. Foster carers from their relevant agencies were randomly selected. 11 agencies were contacted, with only 3 agreeing to take part. The questionnaire consisted of 10 questions relating to the general background information of Lac as well as questions relating to their dental care. Descriptive data analysis revealed the following: Highest proportions of LAC in care were aged 10-14 (33.33%); Pakistani ethnicity was identified as most prevalent (23.33%) and 60% of LAC’s presented with dental anxiety. Analysis of the study further revealed a statistical significance between the occurrence of dental fillings and LAC in foster care aged 10-14 (p= 0.001) and 0-4 (p= 0.027). No statistical significance was observed between the current oral health status of LAC and the time spent in care (P= 0.570). Overall the hypothesis that foster care provides improved oral health care for LAC was accepted; however this was not dependant on the duration of time a LAC was in care. Instead factors such as foster care management, increased education and healthier choice of diet were all contributors in increasing the oral healthcare outcome for LAC.