Does residential aged care need dental professionals? A qualitative study on dental professionals' perceptions in Australia.

OBJECTIVE: Adults in residential aged care often retain their own teeth following restorative dental procedures during their lives. They may also have physical and psychological comorbidities impacting on oral health including side effects from medications. residents' poor oral hygiene, dental caries and periodontal disease raise questions about the quality of oral health care in aged care facilities. This paper presents findings from a study investigating dental professionals' perceptions of barriers and enablers to providing oral care to residents in such settings. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Following university ethics approval, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 dental professionals [five dentists, three oral health therapists (OHTs) and nine dental hygienists] across Australia to address the issue. Interviews were transcribed and analysed for key themes, noting similarities and differences within and between groups that were compared to existing evidence. RESULTS: Key themes emerging from interviews included individual and organisational difficulties dental professionals experience when meeting residents' oral health needs; poor access to dental resources; limited oral health education for aged care staff; and lack of interprofessional collaboration. Suggested enablers to oral health included interprofessional education and practice, reflecting broader trends in health care that positively impact on health outcomes. CONCLUSION: Improving residents' oral health requires appropriate organisational commitment to support dental and non-dental health providers deliver high-quality oral care. This study highlights the need to critically review barriers and enablers to providing such care, particularly as Australia's ageing population increases and longer periods are spent in residential aged care.

Aged care staff perspectives on oral care for residents: Western Australia.

OBJECTIVE: To determine manager and staff perceptions of oral health and dental service issues for residents in aged care facilities in the Perth Metropolitan Area, Western Australia. DESIGN: Focus groups and face-to-face semi-structured interviews with aged care facility managers and staff. SETTING AND SUBJECTS: Personnel at 12 facilities (high-level and low-level care) located in the Perth Metropolitan Area participated in the study. Interviews were conducted with 14 facility managers. Focus groups and face-to-face interviews were conducted with 40 facility staff. RESULTS: Managers and staff had similar views regarding most issues. While resident oral health was considered important, regular oral care programmes were limited or lacking. In general, high care facility residents did not have regular dental checkups, while those in low-level care facilities usually visited their own dentist for checkups or treatment. Barriers to maintaining regular oral care included: resident noncompliance; financial concerns; lack of co-operation from family; mobility issues; and lack of interest from dental professionals. Suggested improvements to current services included regular on-site visits, staff education and specialised dental professionals. CONCLUSION: Residents face many barriers to maintenance of adequate oral health care, particularly those who are functionally dependent and cognitively impaired. There is an urgent need for appropriate oral care programmes for aged care residents, which include dentists with aged care experience and continuing education for facility staff. Any major programmes should be evaluated carefully.