Since the publication of the oral health survey in Scottish prisons in 2002 (1) a number of
national health directives have recognised the prison population was a priority group, to
improve oral health (2, 3). Despite the long-term efforts to reduce oral health inequalities,
the current literature does not provide sufficient information about the health promotion
programmes or their effectiveness. While the difficulties in conducting research in the
prison setting are readily acknowledged (4), the need to inform healthcare services from
robust evidence is a key process in translating health improvement programmes into
economic benefits and health gains: a process which is scrutinised ever closer under current
financial constraints (5).