Shining examples of initiatives that have improved children's oral health can now be recognised as the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry has opened its annual Outstanding Innovation Award for entries.

The award, now in its second year, was created to celebrate inspiring and innovative initiatives to improve oral health of children in the UK and publicise these to encourage, promote and disseminate good practice.

The winner in 2018 was dentist Ben Underwood for his tooth-brushing app BrushDJ to inspire improved tooth brushing amongst children. The first prize for the award is the opportunity to speak at BSPD's conference and receive a certificate.

At the 2018 conference held on 11–14 September 2018 in Dundee, Underwood outlined the background to the development of the app which has now been downloaded in 199 countries.

Underwood told the conference that because the majority of people own Smart phones, he was confident that mobile phone use would continue to accelerate and a free app with music could have universal appeal.

He also made the free app accessible to all including blind or low vision users and those with dyslexia.

Underwood was an inaugural NHS Innovation Accelerator Fellow and BrushDJ is the only dental app in the NHS digital library. It has won multiple awards and he continues to evolve content and extend access to free music.

Entries for the 2019 award can be on paper or in electronic or poster format and there is no word limit. Pictures which illustrate the project are welcome but not essential. Judging will be undertaken by BSPD's Executive Committee at its February meeting.

Claire Stevens, media spokesperson for BSPD, said: 'The award celebrates the work of BSPD members and anybody with an interest in children's oral health can join. After two great winners in 2017 and 2018 we are really excited to see who enters next year. We are committed to supporting innovation in children's oral health.'

–More details are available at https://www.bspd.co.uk/Professionals/Awards-and-Prizes . BSPD members are asked to submit entries to administrator@bspd.co.uk by 5pm on 31 January 2019.