Brighter Smiles – a direct access dental care pathway for care leavers

Background Oral diseases represent a significant global public health challenge, disproportionately affecting certain populations, including care leavers (CLs), who face higher rate of dental caries and barriers to care. This paper outlines the development of a dedicated dental clinic for CLs, enabling direct access to dental care via a dental therapist, and shares perspectives from both dental professionals and specialist nurses. Methods The Brighter Smiles clinic was developed in Plymouth, Southwest England in November 2023 by Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise, following stakeholder consultations. Designed to improve dental access to CLs, the clinic operates in collaboration with the Children, Young People and Families Services at the local authority, and specialist nurses, offering preventive care, early intervention and facilitating referrals when needed. Results Initial outcomes highlight the effectiveness of dental therapists working under direct access, the value of interdisciplinary collaboration and the need for trauma-informed care. Although this pathway has shown promise in improving dental care access and outcomes for CLs, challenges such as limited capacity and patient anxieties persist. Conclusions The implementation of a direct access model through dental therapists presents significant potential to improve dental care for vulnerable groups and reduce oral health inequalities.