page_title: Geriatric dentistry
section_title: Dental care in residential aged care facilitates
hierarchical_section_title: Geriatric dentistry / Dental care in residential aged care facilitates
caption_attribution_description: English: Paralysed and functionally dependant patient receiving dental care
context_page_description: Geriatric dentistry is the delivery of dental care to older adults involving diagnosis, prevention, management and treatment of problems associated with age related diseases. The mouth is referred to as a mirror of overall health, reinforcing that oral health is an integral part of general health. In the elderly population poor oral health has been considered a risk factor for general health problems. Older adults are more susceptible to oral conditions or diseases due to an increase in chronic conditions and physical/mental disabilities. Thus, the elderly form a distinct group in terms of provision of care.
context_section_description: Elderly people in residential care facilities are considered to have some of the poorest oral health in Australia, and are some of our most vulnerable and disadvantaged population groups.
  Elderly people who are functionally dependant and residing in residential care facilities, are particularly vulnerable to oral health issues such as periodontal disease, dental caries, particularly root caries and other oral health issues.  
  Their dependence on staff to assist them with daily oral hygiene care often results in minimal hygiene being provided. Oral health requirements are often unfortunately overshadowed by more important things such as feeding, toileting and bathing. Other barriers that care staff in residential aged care facilities experience to providing oral care included lack of oral health policies, and ongoing education and training.
  Historically there has been a reluctance with dental professionals to attend residential aged-care facilities. When combined with the difficulty experienced for residents to access dental care themselves, their options have been limited. Therefore, the need for regular onsite professional dental care is urgently required, to address early detection, prevention and treatment of oral health problems.
  Maintaining the oral health of residents in residential care facilities requires a multidisciplinary approach to address these issues. The incorporation of the oral health therapist into the residential aged care facility, as part of a multidisciplinary approach with nursing staff, is suggested to demonstrate an effective and efficient use of health resources. The oral health therapist can provide individualized oral hygiene care plans, routine dental care, and help provide education, preventative programmes and ongoing support and motivation to nursing staff.
  Having the oral health therapist implement and manage an oral health training programme that is then executed by a registered nurse, who is the oral health leader, and who has received oral health education by the oral health therapist. They are then able to carry out and enforce the programme whilst the oral health therapist is not there. This would encourage better integration, education and motivation of nurses and care staff into oral hygiene care delivery. Increasing the ability and confidence of staff when performing oral health care for residents and being able to identify oral health care problems when they arise. The emphasis needs to be on good end of life oral care, through prevention and maintenance rather than advanced dental treatments. This is where the oral health therapist could fill that niche in residential care facilities.
caption: Paralysed and functionally dependant patient receiving dental care
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