Feasibility of Food Insecurity Screening in Dental Clinics: Findings from the South Texas Oral Health Network

Abstract Introduction: Food insecurity is associated with poorer oral health, yet little is known about whether dental clinics can feasibly identify food-insecure patients. The current study evaluated the feasibility of food insecurity screening across three dental practices. Methods Three dental practices in San Antonio, Texas, offered adults a self-administered, English-language Hunger Vital Sign screener at check-in between March 11 and May 22, 2026. An affirmative response to either item was classified as a positive screen for risk of food insecurity. Positive-screen prevalence was assessed overall and by clinic. Results A total of 423 completed screens were analyzed, of which 104 (24.6%) indicated positive for risk of food insecurity. Positive-screen prevalence varied across the three study clinics, ranging from 14.6% to 33.3% ( P = .003). Of the positive screens, 76.9% included affirmative responses to both items on the Hunger Vital Sign screener. Conclusion This study provides preliminary evidence that incorporating brief screening tools into routine dental workflows is feasible and can help identify food-insecure patients. Future studies are needed to assess whether dental clinics can successfully connect identified food-insecure patients to services that alleviate food insecurity and improve oral health.