Access to dental services: Middlesex University students

Healthwatch Barnet conducted a small engagement exercise with students at Middlesex University during the Student Success Festival in March 2018 to explore access to dental services among university students. The work was prompted by concerns that young adults may be less engaged with dental care despite the importance of maintaining good oral health. A total of 43 students participated in the survey. 

The findings showed that most students who had visited a dentist since starting university had done so when returning home rather than using local dental services. Sixty per cent of respondents said they had been to a dentist since starting university, but almost all of these visits took place in their home area. Only 5% of students reported using a local dentist near the university, while 35% had not visited a dentist at all since starting university. 

Most students had attended a dentist relatively recently, with 59% reporting a visit within the previous six months. However, over one-third had not visited for more than six months, including several who had not seen a dentist for more than two years. 

Cost was identified as the main barrier to accessing dental care. Nearly half of respondents cited expense as a reason for not attending dental appointments. Some students reported postponing treatment because they believed it would be unaffordable, while others assumed costs would be too high even though they did not know the actual charges. 

Other barriers included a belief that dental visits were unnecessary, fear of the dentist, and uncertainty about how to book an appointment. A small number of students also explained that their usual dentists were overseas, reflecting the large international student population at the university. 

Despite these barriers, students generally demonstrated positive attitudes towards oral health. Almost all respondents agreed that having healthy teeth was important. 

Healthwatch Barnet concluded that students valued oral health but often delayed or avoided accessing dental services while at university. Many appeared to rely on returning home for treatment, particularly international students and those who received financial support from family members for dental care. The report highlighted concerns that some students were unsure how to access local dental services and that cost and low prioritisation of dental care remained significant obstacles to regular attendance.