Do dental nurses in England have a role in the early intervention of oral healthcare for infants and toddlers during mandated contacts by Specialist Community Public Health Nurses?

Abstract

Oral health is a fundamental aspect of overall health and well-being, particularly in infancy and early childhood (Public Health England (PHE), 2014). In England, Specialist Community Public Health Nurses (SCPHNs) provide mandated contacts with families, creating a unique opportunity to promote early oral healthcare and prevent early childhood caries (ECC). Despite this, gaps remain in the consistent delivery of oral health advice and the potential role for dental nurses to support these interventions is largely unexplored.
This study explored whether dental nurses in England have a role in the early intervention of oral healthcare for infants and toddlers during mandated contacts by SCPHNs. Online qualitative interviews were conducted with SCPHNs (n=8), parents or caregivers (n=8), and dental nurses (n=7) in England. Analysis revealed four key themes: (1) Knowledge, Competency, and Confidence in Early Oral Health Interventions; (2) Interdisciplinary Collaboration and the Role of Healthcare Professionals; (3) Barriers and Challenges to Implementing Early Oral Healthcare; and (4) Improving Access to Dental Services and Early Oral Healthcare Support.
The findings highlight the untapped potential to address gaps in infants and toddlers’ oral healthcare. With their clinical expertise, dental nurses are well placed to support SCPHNs in promoting oral health during these critical formative stages. Although SCPHNs recognised the importance of oral health promotion, formal collaboration with dental nurses was largely absent. Many parents or caregivers reported receiving little or no oral health advice, while dental nurses expressed both enthusiasm to contribute and concerns about role clarity, professional boundaries, and training needs.
Overall, this study emphasises the potential for dental nurses to work alongside SCPHNs, representing a novel area of inquiry that integrates dental and public health nursing within the early years’ context. These findings offer new insights into how these professions can collaborate to improve oral health outcomes for young children and reduce early years’ inequalities.

Date of Award	18 Mar 2026
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Northampton
Supervisor	Jane Murray (Supervisor) & Jacquie Ridge (Supervisor)