Special Needs & Medical Study ✓ Peer reviewed

Using Role Substitution to Improve Oral Health of Dependent Older People Residing in Care Homes and Assisted Living Settings in the United Kingdom.

Community dentistry and oral epidemiology · Brocklehurst PR, McKenna G, Hoare Z, Jenkins A, Evans R, Syed SS, Harvey M, Chestnutt IG, Baker SR, Smith CJ, O'Neill C, Hendry A, Karki A, Moons K, Sandom F, Donaldson M, Lappin C, Shepherd K, Morgan L, Tsakos G · 2026-07-22

A six-month trial tested whether Dental Therapists and Dental Nurses could reduce plaque in dependent older care home residents compared to standard care, but found no statistically significant improvements in oral health outcomes between the two groups.

A plain-English summary of the study's own findings — we don't add our own claims or interpretation. Read the full paper for the complete methods and results, and apply your own clinical judgement.

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