Public health dentists in maternal and child oral health in India: workforce roles, systemic barriers, and policy implications from a mixed-methods study.

Background: Maternal and child oral health (MCOH) plays an important role in preventing early childhood caries and improving pregnancy outcomes. Despite global recognition of this link, India has no formal incorporation of oral health into maternal care. Public Health Dentists may be well-positioned to address this gap; however, their roles within maternal and child oral health services have received limited attention. The present exploratory workforce study, therefore examined the perceptions, roles, and systemic barriers experienced by Public Health Dentists in India. Methodology: A mixed-methods study design was employed. Quantitative data were collected from 150 Public Health Dentists between February and June 2025 using a structured questionnaire that underwent a validation process. This phase was followed by in-depth qualitative interviews with 25 participants to obtain a more detailed understanding of their experiences. Quantitative data were analysed using chi-square tests and multivariable binary logistic regression, while qualitative data were analysed through thematic analysis. The findings were incorporated using triangulation. Results: A large proportion of respondents (85%) reported being confident in providing oral health education to pregnant women; however, 60% indicated that they had not received formal training in maternal and child oral health. The most commonly reported barriers include limited awareness among patients (40%), financial constraints (25%), and prevailing cultural beliefs (20%). Participants practicing in rural settings reported greater challenges related to accessibility and health literacy. Qualitative findings further highlighted the educator and advocacy roles of Public Health Dentists, while also emphasising systemic limitations and the need for stronger interdisciplinary collaboration. Formal training was significantly associated with higher confidence in service delivery ( Conclusion: The findings suggest that the Public Health Dentists may currently be underutilised in maternal and child oral health services, largely due to structural and training-related limitations. Strengthening the integration of oral health within national maternal health initiatives, including the Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCH + A) programme, together with competency-based training and improved interprofessional collaboration, could help enhance service delivery and address existing gaps in maternal and child oral healthcare in India.