Exploring the Views of Dentists and Dental Support Staff Regarding Multiple Caries in Children

Abstract

This paper explores the reasons for multiple caries in children from the viewpoint of clinical practice, namely General Dental Practitioners (GDPs) and their teams, to identify obstacles to reducing inequalities in caries experience. The context of the research is the distribution of dental caries in UK communities where disease prevalence correlates with deprivation and these sub-groups are not attending for dental care on a regular basis. A focus group of dentists, along with individual interviews with dentists and dental support staff were chosen to explore the perceptions of GDPs, Dental Therapists, and Dental Nurses. The content analysis of the data highlighted six main themes. These included sugar, in terms of the amount, availability and the marketing of it; socioeconomic associations with dental caries experience; the dentists’ role; the National Health Service (NHS) dental contract in terms of time-constraints in meeting targets and finally, the management of the child with multiple caries. This research suggests that there are possible barriers to the delivery of equitable care to populations. These include availability and access to GDPs along with the perceptions held by GDPs. Training aimed to develop a targeted behavioural approach towards deprived sub-groups is required in order to avoid unintended social exclusion.

Barriers to prevention in oral health care for english NHS dental patients: a qualitative study of views from key stakeholders

“…If they don’t hold such beliefs then they are less likely to deliver effective oral health promotion. Indeed, previous research highlighted that some dental professionals felt as though their actions did little to influence patient behaviour change with regards to childhood caries, suggesting that patient motivation played an important role[ 35 ] Kay et al,[ 10 ] conclude that oral health practitioners need a high sense of self-efficacy regarding their oral health promotion abilities. The idea of creating capability, enhancing motivation to change, and creating opportunities to enact the oral health behaviour seem like sensible strategies to support patients to change their oral health behaviour.…”

“…We recognise that it is likely that including dental hygienists, dental therapists and dental nurses would have offered another viewpoint on the delivery of prevention. Recent research[ 35 ] does capture the viewpoint of these dental team members with regards to caries in children, but future research should aim to explore this from an adult patient perspective. Our focus on dentists is inline with the view of dentists as team leaders of the practice, as they are the individuals who run the business (which is influenced by contracts, incentives, and altruistic motivations).…”

Experiences of newly qualified dentists in delivering oral health advice to parents/caregivers of young children—challenges and solutions

“…This reflects the concept of proportionate universalism in that health services need to be universal but resourced and delivered at a scale and intensity proportionate to the level of need (5). Indeed, several authors have recently argued that to improve oral health, effective oral health education and interventions are needed and that general dental practices are key in facilitating and reinforcing prevention in the community (6)(7)(8)(9)(10). As such, they advocate greater equity in dental care access, training to develop a targeted behavioural approach towards those with the greatest needs, greater engagement with users in delivery, and clear and consistent oral health messages.…”