Dental students work with veterans to improve oral health awareness for job seekers

Active Plus uses the skills, experience and expertise of injured military veterans to deliver unique programmes within local communities that build confidence, motivation and self belief, unlocking the potential of civilian participants, all of whom are from vulnerable or potentially vulnerable groups. Active Plus provided the introduction to the job centre programme in Plymouth and their veterans worked with the students to help them deliver their project.

The students were able to start their project by speaking to clients of the Active Plus employment course about oral health. This showed the students the general level of oral health related knowledge among their target group and what worried them about dentistry.

They discovered that accessing an NHS dentist is the biggest issue – whether because of cost, transport, fear or other reasons. They also learned that the target group would appreciate general tips about oral hygiene, as there were many misconceptions about what should and should not be done.