Link work support to help people with severe mental health difficulties see a dentist
Tests link work support for attending dental visits in adults with severe mental illness.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: The Mouth Matters in Mental Health Trial -2
Key facts
- Where
- Ashton-under-Lyne, London, Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne, and Preston, United KingdomSee the 5 sites
Where in United Kingdom
- Pennine Care NHS Foundation TrustAshton-under-Lyne, United KingdomTaking people
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation TrustLondon, United KingdomNot yet recruiting
- Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation TrustManchester, United KingdomTaking people
- Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation TrustNewcastle upon Tyne, United KingdomTaking people
- Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation TrustPreston, United KingdomTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
- Trial code
- NCT07470437
- Record updated
- 27 July 2026
- Original description
This clinical trial will evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a link work intervention for supporting people with severe mental health difficulties to attend a routine dental appointment. There are two main outcomes, namely: i) attendance at a routine dental appointment; and ii) oral health quality of life.Read full original descriptionShow less
A Link Work Intervention to Support Dental Visiting in People With Severe Mental Health Difficulties: The Mouth Matters in Mental Health Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness Trial
This clinical trial will evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a link work intervention for supporting people with severe mental health difficulties to attend a routine dental appointment. There are two main outcomes, namely: i) attendance at a routine dental appointment; and ii) oral health quality of life.
The main predictions are that:
1. The link work intervention plus treatment as usual will lead to greater likelihood of attendance at a routine dental appointment, compared with treatment as usual alone. 2. The link work intervention plus treatment as usual will lead to better oral health quality of life, compared with treatment as usual alone. 3. The link work intervention plus treatment as usual will be cost-effective compared with treatment as usual alone.
Inclusion: Aged ≥18 years; Receipt of care from community mental health or early intervention teams at the point of referral; No routine dental appointment (e.g. high street dentist, special care dentist service) in the past three years. This would include any dental examination, diagnosis, advice or treatment (e.g. fillings, root canal, extractions, crowns, dentures, bridges) resulting from a routine (non-emergency) appointment at a dental service. Emergency dental care (e.g. emergency attendance at an Accident \& Emergency Appointment or a dental hospital) is not included within this definition, although any follow-up routine and planned appointments with a dentist would exclude the person from taking part; Able to provide informed consent as determined by trained researchers in consultation with the clinical team.
Exclusion: Current inpatient status on psychiatric ward. This does not include people in rehabilitation homes or supported accommodation in the community; Immediate risk to self or others operationalised as the presence of active intent or planning to harm oneself or others in the near future (e.g. next month), or a suicide attempt in the past month (e.g. life-threatening self-harm, overdose). Where individuals are excluded on this basis, with the person's consent, the researcher will aim to re-contact them and/or the referrer in approximately one-months' time to determine if risk has subsided to a point where they are now eligible; Enrolled in another dental randomised controlled trial.