The chaos of homelessness and a high prevalence of previous trauma Results in self-neglect and therefore poor dental hygiene. It was found 99% of homeless people require dental treatment, however less than half completed their treatment plan. Reasons for this include dental anxiety and accessibility barriers, such as opening times and geographical inaccessibility. The lack of leadership and management focused on providing specific and suitable dental services for the homeless community leaves them with services that are not accessible.

Leading the way as a possible solution is a mobile dentistry unit (MDU) which would provide suitable dental care to the homeless population. It would be flexible, in location and time, and work collaboratively with an already established network of homeless service providers. In order to measure the success of this service it would be reviewed in areas including patient attendance, completion of treatment plans and patient satisfaction.

Although the initial financial cost would be high, £200,000, it would decrease the number of preventable hospital attendances and missed national health service (NHS) dental appointments. 55% of the homeless community miss their annual NHS dental appointments, and 30% attend hospital with dental complaints. Based on the 580 people registered at Exeter’s specialised homeless healthcare general practice surgery, The Clock Tower Surgery, Exeter, this would save £65,000 per year. Therefore, this would result in a long-term financial benefit after four years. There is also an incalculable benefit of pain relief, improved self-esteem and improved oral hygiene for the patients treated.

In conclusion, successful management and leadership of MDUs would tackle the need for dental services suitable for the homeless community. An increase in oral health can increase self-esteem and help gain a sense of control, which in turn can support the process of people getting their lives back on track.