Exploring Community‐Based Oral Health Screening and Prevention for Children, With Children, in Non‐Clinical Settings: An Explanatory Parallel Mixed Methods Study

OBJECTIVES: Lack of regular access to dental services for children can increase disease prevalence and burden on NHS services, which is aggravated for the most vulnerable. Non-clinical community hubs could be a feasible alternative for dental checks and oral health education. The aim of this study was to assess the oral health of children attending a non-clinical community hub, and the feasibility/acceptability of these settings to children. METHOD: This study adopted an parallel mixed-methods approach. Dental screening of children (0-16 years old) was undertaken in a non-clinical community hub by a trained and calibrated dentist in April 2024. Basic demographics, global quality of life and clinical data were collected. All children were given oral health education using tooth models and dietary advice. A sub-sample of children were recruited for qualitative inquiry, using a purposive sampling strategy. Three focus groups were facilitated with a pre-determined topic guide and creative arts-based techniques to facilitate discussion. These were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and inductively coded following thematic analysis. RESULTS: MFT was 2.0 (SD 3.1; 0-19). Fifteen patients had silver diamine fluoride, 125 had fluoride varnish and one refused. Forty-one children were signposted for future care. Three focus groups involving 11 children identified three themes that were constructed from the data were: 'space' requirements; promoting positive engagement; familiarity with the environment. Children were generally accepting of foodbanks as settings for oral health screening and preventive care. They emphasised the importance of child-friendly, non-threatening spaces and highlighted how familiar environments and trusted staff fostered feelings of safety and engagement. CONCLUSION: Non-clinical community hubs are feasible and acceptable spaces to children to screen for oral health, providing a unique opportunity to reduce barriers to access and to target underserved groups with following on screening activities.