Health Inclusion Pathway Plymouth (HIPP) Dental Clinic: Reducing Health Inequalities Through Accessible Dental Care

 

For many people, accessing dental care can be challenging. For those experiencing homelessness, social exclusion or complex health and social circumstances, those challenges can become significant barriers to accessing routine dental treatment.

Since opening in January 2018, the Health Inclusion Pathway Plymouth (HIPP) Dental Clinic has been working to address this issue by providing accessible, patient-centred dental care for people who may otherwise struggle to access mainstream services.

The clinic supports individuals who often face multiple barriers to healthcare, helping them access essential dental treatment in a supportive and understanding environment. By prioritising prevention, early intervention and continuity of care, the service aims to improve both oral health outcomes and overall wellbeing.

Over the last 12 months (July 2025 to June 2026), the clinic supported 80 patients across 308 appointments, reflecting both the ongoing need for the service and the value of providing tailored care to people facing complex circumstances.

The HIPP clinic is delivered through close partnerships, bringing together dental professionals and local support services across Plymouth to ensure patients receive care that is responsive to their needs. For many, the clinic can be an important first step towards improving not only their oral health, but also their confidence, wellbeing and engagement with wider healthcare services.

A patient who received dental care at the HIPP Clinic stated: “a huge thank you to every staff member I’ve interacted with on this journey. You’ve had a bigger impact on my life then you will ever realise – thank you so much“.

To showcase the impact of the HIPP Dental Clinic, we’ve produced a short film featuring reflections from patients, staff and partner organisations involved with the service. Their perspectives offer valuable insight into the challenges many individuals face in accessing dental care and the difference accessible, trauma-informed, compassionate care can make to people’s lives.

Watch the film below to learn more about the HIPP Dental Clinic.

The impact of the clinic has also been recognised through award-winning research. In 2025, a study evaluating the Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise community dental care model for people experiencing homelessness received the International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (IADR) Judith Albino Award for Outstanding Research in Health Equity. The research found the model to be a cost-effective approach that improves access to care while generating wider health and social benefits.