The stories of the ageing population in Luton, United Kingdom on their experience of periodontal diseases healthcare.

Knowledge about periodontal disease was low among ageing Indian adults in Luton.

• Most participants believed that gum issues were not a big problem
• Participants held the belief that everyone got gum problems with ageing, normalizing the condition
• Sample consisted of 10 ageing Indian adults living in Luton
• Data were analyzed using the Health Belief Model, Social Cognitive Theory, and Intersectionality as theoretical frameworks

Structural barriers to dental care access included cost, waiting times, and complexity of NHS services, as well as unaffordability of private care.

• Participants described NHS dental care as too expensive, too long, and too complicated
• Private sector care was perceived as high quality but unaffordable
• These barriers were identified through semi-structured interviews with 10 participants
• Barriers contributed to reactive rather than preventive care-seeking behavior

Psychosocial factors including fear, mistrust, and shame discouraged use of dental services among participants.

• Fear, mistrust, and shame were identified as psychological barriers to dental service utilization
• These psychosocial variables interacted with cultural beliefs and systemic barriers
• Findings were derived from thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with 10 ageing Indian adults
• These factors collectively contributed to low uptake of preventive periodontal care

Periodontal treatment among this population was predominantly reactive and symptomatic rather than preventive.

• Participants engaged in little preventive treatment for periodontal disease
• Care-seeking was driven by symptoms rather than preventive oral health maintenance
• This pattern was attributed to the interaction of cultural beliefs, systemic barriers, and psychosocial variables
• The study used qualitative semi-structured interviews with 10 ageing Indian adults in Luton

Cultural and familial factors influenced oral health behaviours among ageing Indian adults in Luton.

• The research aimed to understand the impact of cultural, familial, and emotional factors on oral health behaviours
• Intersectionality was used as a theoretical framework to identify how ethnicity, age, and other factors interact
• Cultural beliefs were identified as interacting with systemic barriers and psychosocial variables
• Community and family-level interventions were identified as potentially important for improving oral health outcomes

The study recommends culturally sensitive oral healthcare education, family- and community-based interventions, and improved affordability and cultural competence of NHS dental care.

• Main issues identified include culturally sensitive oral healthcare education and family- and community-intervention
• Affordability, access, and cultural competence of NHS dental care were highlighted as priority areas
• The study contributes qualitative evidence on the need for culturally competent, family-engaged, and accessible dental care for ethnic minority older adults in the UK
• Recommendations were based on thematic analysis of interviews with 10 ageing Indian adults using Health Belief Model, Social Cognitive Theory, and Intersectionality frameworks