What proportion of dental care in care homes could be met by direct access to dental therapists or dental hygienists?

Monaghan, N.; Morgan, Maria Zeta

doi:10.1038/bdjteam.2016.49

Cited by 1 publication

(2 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Following a retrospective analysis of the 2010 Welsh dental care home survey data, Monaghan & Morgan [26] concluded 'a large proportion of need in care homes could be wholly provided by hygienists or therapists' and an 'efficiency gain of direct access arises from individuals who do not need to see a dentist for any aspects of their care' . It is also argued that DTs can lead examinations in care home settings [27].…”

Section: Background and Rationale {6a}mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The DTs will provide any simple operative treatment for individual residents, within their Scope of Practice (referring onto dentists within the CDS when necessary) [33]. Monaghan and Morgan [26] found that these management strategies would address the majority of cases that are likely to be seen in residents based in care homes. Extractions will need to be referred to dentists and DTs will act to sign-post residents to the CDS.…”

Section: Intervention Description {11a}mentioning

confidence: 99%

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uSing rolE-substitutioN In care homes to improve ORal health (SENIOR): a study protocol

McKenna

Tsakos

Watson

et al. 2022

Trials

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Background Dental service provision in the care home sector is poor, with little emphasis on prevention. Emerging evidence suggests that the use of Dental Care Professionals (dental therapists and dental nurses) as an alternative to dentists has the potential to improve preventive advice, the provision of care and access to services within care homes. However, robust empirical evidence from definitive trials on how to successfully implement and sustain these interventions within care homes is currently lacking. The aim of the study is to determine whether Dental Care Professionals could reduce plaque levels of dentate older adults (65 + years) residing in care homes. Methods This protocol describes a two-arm cluster-randomised controlled trial that will be undertaken in care homes across Wales, Northern Ireland and England. In the intervention arm, the dental therapists will visit the care homes every 6 months to assess and then treat eligible residents, where necessary. All treatment will be conducted within their Scope of Practice. Dental nurses will visit the care homes every month for the first 3 months and then three-monthly afterwards to promulgate advice to improve the day-to-day prevention offered to residents by carers. The control arm will be ‘treatment as usual’. Eligible care homes (n = 40) will be randomised based on a 1:1 ratio (20 intervention and 20 control), with an average of seven residents recruited in each home resulting in an estimated sample of 280. Assessments will be undertaken at baseline, 6 months and 12 months and will include a dental examination and quality of life questionnaires. Care home staff will collect weekly information on the residents’ oral health (e.g. episodes of pain and unscheduled care). The primary outcome will be a binary classification of the mean reduction in Silness-Löe Plaque Index at 6 months. A parallel process evaluation will be undertaken to explore the intervention’s acceptability and how it could be embedded in standard practice (described in a separate paper), whilst a cost-effectiveness analysis will examine the potential long-term costs and benefits of the intervention. Discussion This trial will provide evidence on how to successfully implement and sustain a Dental Care Professional-led intervention within care homes to promote access and prevention. Trial registration ISRCTN16332897. Registered on 3 December 2021.

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Section: Background and Rationale {6a}mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Intervention Description {11a}mentioning

confidence: 99%