April 14, 2026

Community engagement and equity-oriented research are prerequisites for designing inclusive oral health services for people experiencing homelessness

Community engagement and equity-oriented research are prerequisites for designing inclusive oral health services for people experiencing homelessness
  • Groundswell. Healthy Mouths: A Peer-Led Audit on the Oral Health of People Experiencing Homelessness. London: Groundswell, 2017.

  • Smile4life. The Oral Health of Homeless People Across Scotland. Dundee: University of Dundee, 2011.

  • Blackmore T, Williams S A, Prendergast M J, Pope J E. The dental health of single male hostel dwellers in Leeds. Community Dent Health 1995; 12: 104–109.

  • Seirawan H, Elizondo L K, Nathason N, Mulligan R. The oral health conditions of the homeless in downtown Los Angeles. J Calif Dent Assoc 2010; 38: 681–688.

  • Daly B, Newton T, Batchelor P, Jones K. Oral health care needs and oral health-related quality of life (OHIP-14) in homeless people. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2010; 38: 136–144.

  • Musa A, Booth J, Wheat H, Witton R, Paisi M. Factors affecting the integration of dental services into health and social care for people with complex needs. Health Expect 2025; DOI: 10.1111/hex.70243.

  • Watt R G, Daly B, Allison P et al. Ending the neglect of global oral health: time for radical action. Lancet 2019; 394: 261–272.

  • Watt R G, Venturelli R, Daly B. Understanding and tackling oral health inequalities in vulnerable adult populations: from the margins to the mainstream. Br Dent J 2019; 227: 49–54.

  • Witton R, Paisi M. Dental care for homeless persons: time for National Health Service reform. Public Health Pract 2021; 2: 100194.

  • British Dental Association. Dental Care for Homeless People. London: British Dental Association, 2003.

  • Peres M A, Macpherson L M D, Weyant R J et al. Oral diseases: a global public health challenge. Lancet 2019; 394: 249–260.

  • Nunez E, Gibson G, Jones J A, Schinka J A. Evaluating the impact of dental care on housing intervention program outcomes among homeless veterans. Am J Public Health 2013; 103(Suppl2): 368–373.

  • Paisi M, Baines R, Worle C, Withers L, Witton R. Evaluation of a community dental clinic providing care to people experiencing homelessness: a mixed methods approach. Health Expect 2020; 23: 1289–1299.

  • Conte M, Broder H L, Jenkins G, Reed R, Janal M N. Oral health, related behaviors and oral health impacts among homeless adults. J Public Health Dent 2006; 66: 276–278.

  • Public Health England. Evidence Review: Adults with Complex Needs (With a Particular Focus on Street Begging and Street Sleeping). London: Public Health England, 2018.

  • Paisi M, Withers L, Anderson R et al. Developing oral health services for people experiencing severe and multiple disadvantage: a case study from Southwest England. Front Oral Health 2024; 5: 1283861.

  • World Health Organization. Global oral health status report: towards universal health coverage for oral health by 2030. 2022. Available at (accessed 5 August 2025).

  • World Health Organization. Community engagement: a health promotion guide for universal health coverage in the hands of the people. 2020. Available at (accessed 5 August 2025).

  • World Health Organization. Framework on integrated, people-centred health services. 2016. Available at (accessed 5 August 2025).

  • World Health Organization. WHO framework for meaningful engagement of people living with noncommunicable diseases, and mental health and neurological conditions. Available at (accessed 5 August 2025).

  • Lebrun-Harris L A, Baggett T P, Jenkins D M et al. Health status and health care experiences among homeless patients in federally supported health centers: Findings from the 2009 patient survey. Health Serv Res 2013; 48: 992–1017.

  • Freitas D J, Kaplan L M, Tieu L, Ponath C, Guzman D, Kushel M. Oral health and access to dental care among older homeless adults: results from the HOPE HOME study. J Public Health Dent 2019; 79: 3–9.

  • Marmot M, Bell R. Social determinants and dental health. Adv Dent Res 2011; 23: 201–206.

  • Davidson C. Vision and oral health among individuals experiencing homelessness. 2015. Available at (accessed 1 January 2026).

  • DiMarco M A, Luington S M, Menke E M. Access to and utilization of oral health care by homeless children/families. J Health Care Poor Underserved 2010; 21(Suppl): 67–81.

  • Paisi M, Kay E, Plessas A et al. Barriers and enablers to accessing dental services for people experiencing homelessness: a systematic review. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2019; 47: 103–111.

  • Yusuf H, Golkari A, Kaddour S. Oral health of people experiencing homelessness in London: a mixed methods study. BMC Public Health 2023; 23: 1701.

  • Paisi M, Witton R, Burrows M et al. Management of plaque in people experiencing homelessness using ‘peer education’: a pilot study. Br Dent J 2019; 226: 860–866.

  • Vargas C, Whelan J, Brimblecombe J, Allender S. Co-creation, co-design, co-production for public health – a perspective on definitions and distinctions. Public Health Res Pract 2022; 32: 3222211.

  • Grindell C, Coates E, Croot L, O’Cathain A. The use of co-production, co-design and co-creation to mobilise knowledge in the management of health conditions: a systematic review. BMC Health Serv Res 2022; 22: 877.

  • Lee D, Feiertag P, Unger L. Co-production, co-creation or co-design of public space? A systematic review. Cities 2024; 154: 105372.

  • Muirhead V, El Tantawi M, Rodriguez A. Editorial: Co-designing and evaluating oral health promotion interventions for vulnerable groups. Front Oral Health 2025; 6: 1587771.

  • Buch K, Harden S. The impact of a service-learning project on student awareness of homelessness, civic attitudes, and stereotypes toward the homeless. J Higher Educ Outreach Engagement 2011; 15: 45–61.

  • Zeien J, Hanna J, Puracan J et al. Improving health professionals’ and learners’ attitudes towards homeless individuals through street-based outreach. Health Educ J 2021; 80: 961–973.

  • Webb L, Sandhu S, Morton L et al. A dental student view on learning gained through Inter-Professional Engagement with people experiencing homelessness. Educ Prim Care 2019; 30: 319–321.

  • Cairns D, Rodriguez A. A stakeholder co-design approach to designing a dental service for adults experiencing homelessness. Front Oral Health 2024; 5: 1355429.

  • Beaton L, Humphris G, Rodriguez A, Freeman R. Community-based oral health interventions for people experiencing homelessness: a scoping review. Community Dent Health 2020; 37: 150–160.

  • Beaton L, Humphris G, Rodriguez A, Freeman R. Implementing the Smile4life intervention for people experiencing homelessness: a path analytical evaluation. BMC Oral Health 2021; 21: 383.

  • Simmonds A. People experiencing homelessness. Br Dent J 2025; 238: 77.

  • Mago A, Brondani M A, MacEntee M I, Frankish C J. A model pathway to oral health care for homeless people. J Can Dent Assoc 2018; 84: 10.

  • Scottish Government. Health and social care integration. Available at (accessed 25 May 2025).

  • Rodriguez A, Shambhunath S, Wijesiri T I D, Biazus-Dalcin C, Mc Goldrick N. Co-design of health educational materials with people experiencing homelessness and support workers: a scoping review. Front Oral Health 2024; 5: 1355349.

  • Rodriguez A, Biazus-Dalcin C, Marshall J, Gorman R. Smile4life: a Co-Designed Educational and Training Resource Guide. Dundee: University of Dundee, 2022.

  • link

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Copyright © All rights reserved. | Newsphere by AF themes.