Dental Public Health in Action: Understanding oral health care needs and oral health-related quality of life in vulnerable adults in Plymouth

Abstract: This paper aims to provide a snapshot analysis of the oral health status of vulnerable adults in Plymouth; and to demonstrate the extent to which oral disease impacts on their normal functioning through the implementation of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP). It is acknowledged that gaining a representative sample of a transient population such as people who are homeless, or individuals affected by problematic use of drugs and/or alcohol is difficult. An opportunity was identified to collect data within the Community Engagement Team's (CET) programme of activity within the Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise. The CET works alongside local organisations to enable dental students from Peninsula School of Dentistry to undertake outreach programmes in a variety of settings. A study was designed which aimed to analyse the oral health status of vulnerable adults accessing three day-support services in Plymouth, and to understand the extent to which oral disease impacts on their normal functioning through the OHIP-14. For all impact domains, the 44 patients in this study reported a greater impact than that found in the Adult Dental Health Survey. The most commonly reported impact domains were physical pain and psychological discomfort. The sample was divided into high and low oral health-related quality of life impact groups, and those participants in the high impact group had significantly greater median D₃MFT scores, i.e. higher levels of decay experience. This survey highlights how these vulnerable groups are characterised by a high prevalence of poor oral health, ill-health, deprivation and social exclusion.