Could the minimum intervention oral care framework help improve the quality of oral health delivery and access to NHS primary dental care?

Abstract

Access to NHS primary dental care services is a perennial issue in the UK. Two aspects must be considered when measuring access to dental care: 'entry access', which relates to service availability resulting in realised initial or continued access; and 'effective access', the delivery of effective, equitable and efficient care, which manifests as equitable and optimal outcomes of care. It is proposed that the minimum intervention oral care (MIOC) delivery framework provides a person-focused, prevention-based, susceptibility/needs-related, team-delivered approach to ensuring effective access to primary oral and dental care. A theory of change model could identify the key barriers to overcome the implementation of the MIOC approach, involving all key stakeholders in primary oral and dental care delivery.