A first-of-its-kind scheme is helping Greater Manchester residents experiencing long-term unemployment to overcome oral health barriers and move closer to work, with dental students delivering treatments.
Working Well: Roots to Dental Jointly led by University of Manchester, University Dental Hospital of Manchester, part of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, and Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA). The scheme has already shown how addressing oral health can make a real difference to people’s lives, improving residents’ confidence and readiness for work while supporting the training of the next generation of dentists.
One participant said: "Previously I struggled with pain when eating and sensitivity all the time. I could not drink without a straw, and this makes people look funny at you. Now I have had two root canals on my front teeth I can bite better and eat better, and it’s not sore. I feel more confident to smile as my teeth are a much better colour. I can’t wait to have the rest of them done... I think it will improve my employment prospects by looking better and having less pain."
This success comes against a wider backdrop of unemployment linked to health and disability in Greater Manchester, with oral health emerging as a significant but often hidden barrier to accessing and sustaining good jobs. Working Well: Roots to Dental is a leading example of how to integrate oral health and employment support as well as giving opportunities to dental students to make a difference to local communities. It connects directly to Greater Manchester’s ambition to remove barriers to good jobs by providing everyday, neighbourhood-based support that links health, skills and opportunity, so residents can thrive in work and life.
Following a successful pilot supporting over 200 residents, the scheme was recognised with an Employment Related Services Association (ERSA) Employability Award for Adding Social Value, won in partnership with employment support provider Ingeus. It now plans to widen access to even more Greater Manchester residents through the Working Well programme and other selected referral pathways, so that more people can benefit from integrated dental treatment and employment support.
Cllr Eamonn O’Brien, Greater Manchester lead for Technical Education and Skills, said:
"Roots to Dental shows what’s possible when we join up health, skills and employment support in a way that works for everyone. Residents are getting the treatment and confidence they need to move closer to work, while dental students gain vital, real-world experience that prepares them for their future careers."
Through Roots to Dental, I am learning to deliver high-quality treatment to help people smile again. It’s about more than just teeth; it’s about restoring people’s confidence and improving their quality of life
Sarah-Jade Akintomide, undergraduate dental student said:
"Through Roots to Dental, I am learning to deliver high-quality treatment to help people smile again. It’s about more than just teeth; it’s about restoring people’s confidence and improving their quality of life."
Professor Allan Pacey, Deputy Dean and Deputy Vice President of the Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health said:
"Social Responsibility is a core goal at The University of Manchester and so I am delighted that our students are making a real difference in communities where change is so desperately needed."
- Working Well is a family of services that support people experiencing or at risk of long-term unemployment due to poor health or complex needs.
- To date, over 92,000 residents in Greater Manchester have been supported.
- Working Well: Roots to Dental has recognised unmet need in relation to oral health and employment. Many participants were living in dental pain and felt embarrassed about their teeth, impacting on their ability to move into work.
- Data from a cohort of 4,469 participants in a related Work and Health programme showed:
o 10% had pain or problems in their mouth
o A further 10% felt embarrassed about speaking and smiling due to dental issues
o 40% of participants had no access to a regular dentist
Residents or key workers supporting Working Well services can find out more on the Greater Manchester Combined Authority website: Roots to Dental - Greater Manchester Combined Authority
