The British Society of Paediatric Dentistry's (BSPD's) Outstanding Innovation Award (OIA), which celebrates inspiring and innovative schemes to improve the oral health of children, is about to enter its fifth year. Entries are invited for 2021 from anyone with an initiative or scheme which has a demonstrable impact on children's oral health. The deadline is 31 December 2020.

By creating positive publicity around innovative schemes, BSPD's aim is to encourage, promote and disseminate good practice. The winner in 2020 was Linzi Maybin (pictured, centre) for her Happy Teeth Outreach initiative.

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Linzi said of the OIA: 'It was a huge and important stepping stone with raising awareness of Happy Teeth Outreach. To have dentists from BSPD believing in the project was incredible. The OIA and BSPD's support has fuelled my passion and drive to continue to reach young people with disabilities to improve their oral health.'

Other winners of the award are: 2019, Helen Rogers for Connect Trainees; 2018, Ben Underwood for Brush DJ; and 2017, Ingrid Perry for Teeth Team.

The key criterion for the OIA is evidence of the benefits of the scheme which must meet BSPD's mission to improve the oral health of children. A BSPD member must have initiated or manage it and submit the entry. The prize is the opportunity to speak about the winning scheme at the BSPD annual conference, to which you gain free access for the day. If there are several outstanding entries, there may be the opportunity for 'Highly Commended' awards.

For more information visit: https://www.bspd.co.uk/Professionals/Awards-and-Prizes/The-Outstanding-Innovation-Award. Applications will be considered at the February meeting of the BSPD Executive. The deadline for entry is 31 December and submissions should be emailed to the administrator, Neil Sutcliffe: administrator@bspd.co.uk.