Care pathways for paediatric dentistry services in England: a mapping study

Aims National Health Service (NHS) England's paediatric dentistry clinical standard outlines what specialist paediatric care is and how it should be delivered. Current evidence demonstrates that there are national inconsistencies in the delivery of paediatric dentistry services. Considering this, this study aimed to evaluate the present care pathways available for children in England to access paediatric dentistry services.Methods A qualitative study was undertaken using semi-structured interviews. All paediatric dentistry Managed Clinical Network (MCN) chairs were invited to participate. Interviews were undertaken virtually using a topic guide, audio recorded and transcribed. A process map was created to visually demonstrate the care pathways from Level 1 - Level 3b services in each MCN region in England.Results Nearly all regions of England have an active MCN. Not all regions have an electronic referral management system, with only two having a centralised specialist-led triage system. There is variation in the level of complexity provided within services, often dictated by the limited availability of paediatric dentistry specialists and consultants.Conclusions There are significant regional variations, with few regions in England delivering a pathway consistent with the illustrative care pathway produced in the paediatric dentistry clinical standards. Recommendations have been produced to facilitate equitable delivery of paediatric dentistry services across England.