O5BM delivers landmark free oral and dental health session for older black men in Luton
Over 20 older Black men came together on the evening of Wednesday 9th September 2026 for a landmark Free Oral and Dental Health Session organised by the Over 50s Black Men Forum (O5BM) in collaboration with Community Dental Services (CDS) Bedfordshire — and the response has been overwhelmingly positive.
Held at the Luton Co-op Social Club from 5:30pm to 8:30pm, the event brought professional dental health services directly into the heart of the community, addressing a growing crisis in NHS dental access that has left many older men without a check-up for years, which is not through lack of concern, but through lack of access.
Why This Session Mattered
Access to NHS dental care across England has reached a critical point. Millions of adults are unable to secure appointments, and older Black men already disproportionately affected by conditions such as prostate cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes, and oral cancer, have been among the hardest hit. O5BM identified this gap and took decisive action, partnering with Community Dental Services to bring professional care directly to the men who needed it most.
"We know how difficult it has become for our members to secure even a basic dental appointment," said Chidi, Partnership and Engagement Lead at O5BM. "This session was about saying to older Black men in Luton — your health matters, and we are going to bring the services to you."
An Outstanding Clinical Team
The session was delivered by a dedicated team of two dentists and three dental nurses from Community Dental Services (Chiara, Hana, Letitia, Kat and Owens), who gave their expertise and time to make the evening possible.
Despite what Chidi described as a "huge turnout," the team performed with exceptional professionalism and composure throughout the evening. "The team were excellent and showed no sign of pressure on what was a huge turnout of older Black men," Chidi noted in his message of thanks to CDS following the event. "Each participant mentioned it was enjoyable and very informative."
O5BM would like to place on record its sincere and heartfelt thanks to Kaisha Paterson, Operations Manager for CDS for organising the session on behalf of CDS, and to the entire clinical team for their outstanding dedication to community health.
What the Session Delivered
The evening was structured around three interactive stations, all delivered by the CDS clinical team:
Station 1 — Health Screening
Participants received a thorough oral health screening including mouth cancer checks and gum disease assessments. For many attendees, this was their first oral health check of this kind in several years. Where concerns were identified, participants were advised on the appropriate next steps and signposted to the right support.
Station 2 — Diet, Nutrition and General Health
A dedicated station focused on the link between diet and oral health, with particular emphasis on the impact of sugar and high-fat foods. The station also included blood pressure monitoring and blood sugar testing, which are vital checks that can identify serious conditions such as hypertension and diabetes early. Where readings of concern were identified, participants were provided with a template letter to take to their GP for further investigation.
Station 3 — Toothbrushing and Cleaning Demonstration
An engaging, hands-on station where participants were able to try electric toothbrushes, learn correct brushing techniques, and receive guidance on interdental cleaning. Free dental health samples were distributed to all attendees.
The three stations ran in parallel for the first hour and a half, before the evening concluded with a group presentation and Q&A session covering mouth cancer self-checks, how to find and register with an NHS dentist, understanding NHS dental charges, and how to access CDS services.
What the Data Tells Us: Unmet Need Evidenced
Feedback forms completed by attendees paint a clear and compelling picture of the unmet dental health need among older Black men, especially in Luton, and the difference the session made.
Access to Dental Care
60% - Had not visited a dentist for more than 5 years
100% - Found NHS dental access "very difficult" or "somewhat difficult"
60% - Were not registered or had lost their NHS dentist place
40% - Had experienced dental problems but could not get treatment
Committed Behavioural Changes
100% - Will make changes to daily toothbrushing routine
100% - Will make dietary changes to protect oral health
100% - Will carry out regular mouth self-checks at home
100% - Not yet registered — plan to register with an NHS dentist
80% - Will recommend the session to others in their network
In Their Own Words
Attendees
“I have had persistent toothache for years but unable to get to see a dentist due to the cost. I was also very scared about tooth extraction due to a traumatic past experience. However, today it was possible to see a dentist, who also allayed my fears, and I learnt a lot about mouth-care. Thank you so much O5BM” - Kevin."
Community Dental Services
"I would like to say a huge well done to the team who delivered last night's session. An extended thank you to Owens, our dentist who put a lot of preparation into this with regards to paperwork and planning. I am glad those who attended benefited from the session (both staff and service users), and some were able to take some learning away."
— Kaisha Paterson, Operations Manager, Community Dental Services Bedfordshire
"It was a fantastic event and a real pleasure to be involved. I'd like to extend my thanks to everyone who contributed to making the session such a success — it was very much a team effort. The enthusiasm, expertise and support from everyone involved helped create an engaging and informative experience for attendees. It was great to see such a positive turnout and hear the encouraging feedback from participants. I am looking forward to supporting any future collaborations and building on the success of this event."
— Owens, Dentist, Community Dental Services Bedfordshire
The Impact
Feedback from the evening has been overwhelmingly positive. Every participant rated the session as Good, Very Good or Excellent across all stations. Most importantly, attendees left the session committed to making positive changes — from registering with an NHS dentist and improving daily brushing habits, to carrying out regular mouth self-checks and following up with their GP about blood pressure or blood sugar readings.
"Most importantly, they will be changing their wellbeing lifestyle in a positive way as a result of all they learnt," said Chidi.
The data captured on the night powerfully evidences the scale of unmet dental need in this community. 60% of respondents had not seen a dentist in over five years, and every single attendee reported difficulty accessing NHS dental care. What would have cost each participant over £200 in private health checks was delivered entirely free of charge, which is a testament to the power of community partnership.
The Evening Continued
In true O5BM spirit, the health session was followed by the organisation's regular table tennis session from 8:30pm to 10:00pm — a reminder that health, community, and fun go hand in hand.
What Comes Next
The success of the Luton session has already sparked discussions about expanding the programme further. O5BM and CDS are exploring:
● A Zoom online oral health awareness session to reach O5BM members who were unable to attend in person
● A replica session in other parts of the country where O5BM has a presence
O5BM is also actively pursuing partnerships with optical health providers to deliver a similar free eye screening session in the near future.
"We are really looking forward to future collaborations," said Chidi. "This is just the beginning."
If your organisation would like to partner with O5BM to deliver future community health sessions e.g. eye and prostate screening, we would love to hear from you.
About O5BM
The Over 50s Black Men Forum (O5BM) is one of the UK’s leading community-led organisations dedicated to reducing health, social and economic inequalities affecting older Black men and underserved communities. Since 2018, O5BM has developed an innovative community engagement model that combines trusted relationships, physical activity, health education, peer support and community leadership to improve health outcomes and tackle inequalities.