Dental Care
Dental Care
Most oral and dental problems in frail older people may not be obvious to relatives and health professionals.
Older people do not see dentists regularly but receive regular care from medical and nursing professionals, so collaboration with dentists is important.
This is especially the case in residential aged care. Improved oral health outcomes are achievable using an interdisciplinary approach involving GPs, dentists, oral health therapists, dental prosthetists and nurses trained in oral health.
Dental care must be part of daily care for all aged care residents
However, many residents have a cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s Disease or Dementia and lose the ability to manage tasks like toothbrushing, tasks that most of us consider second nature.
The Importance of dental care:
A lack of regular oral hygiene care can very quickly result in pain, infection, swelling, aspirational pneumonia; and at times, can contribute to hospitalisation.
What is needed is a change in the way oral hygiene care and dental care is viewed, it must be part of general health care and is as important for residents as showering, eating, toileting.
The residents deserve a ‘quality of life’ that includes the ability to eat, drink, speak, smile without pain or discomfort and they deserve services to manage dental issues in a timely and appropriate way, both on-site in the facilities and if they are able; access to safe and supportive dental practices that are close to their facility.