British Society for Disability & Oral Health

The objectives of the Society are:

• To promote the oral health of disabled people of all ages.
• To promote links with organizations representing disabled people
• To consult with disability groups to identify their needs and demands
• To study the barriers relating to the provision of oral health care for disabled people
• To develop Undergraduate and Postgraduate teaching in the subject
• To encourage research in the field of oral health for disabled people

The society holds two scientific meetings each year. The winter meeting is held in London in December, whilst a spring meeting is held at various locations throughout the UK. Meeting programmes cover a wide range of topics, behavioural and social as well as clinical. The society has over 600 members (including more than 100 in Category A). BSDH has group membership of the International Association for Disability and Oral Health (IADH) which means that members of BSDH automatically join IADH.

The Society produces the Journal of Disability and Oral Health which is published in April and October each year. Subscription to the Journal is included in the BSDH membership fee.

BSDH welcomes contact from disabled people or their carers who have experienced difficulty in obtaining dental care. Information is held which can be used to put clients in touch with appropriate dental services. The Society works with other organizations to raise awareness of the barriers to oral health which may be experienced by different groups.

Checked: June 2006