Rutter L, Duara R, Vinall-Collier K A et al. Experiences of newly qualified dentists in delivering oral health advice to parents/caregivers of young children - challenges and solutions. Front Oral Health 2023; DOI: 10.3389/froh.2023.1079584.

Barriers to behaviour change revealed.

General dental practice is considered key in 'facilitating and reinforcing prevention in the community.' Twelve focus groups of foundation dentists from Yorkshire and Humberside (n = 100) discussed the barriers to communicating effective oral health advice. Themes identified included:

  1. 1.

    Lack of personal experience of childcare, parenting and the vocabulary involved, and of knowledge of the roles of other healthcare professionals such as health visitors

  2. 2.

    Lack of parental receptivity to advice given and difficulties overcoming ingrained beliefs

  3. 3.

    Lack of both parental and dentists' motivation to receive and provide advice

  4. 4.

    Information overload and inconsistencies - how to select which information to provide

  5. 5.

    Current NHS structures of general dental practice.