Objective: To assess current practice and attitudes of dentists and homes in the Highland area and to develop a system for the appropriate dental referral of elderly in long term care facilities.

Method: Cross-sectional questionnaire survey of Highland dentists and homes for the elderly, followed by the evaluation of the piloted referral system.

Results: The response rate was 94% of dentists and 79% of homes. Despite 86% of dentists providing domiciliary care and 93% of homes transport to a surgery, no more than a quarter of residents had had contact with a dentist in the previous year. The distribution of residents varied with the most dependant individuals living in nursing units and the least dependant in residential homes. Only 1% of all residents were totally bed bound. Domiciliary patients were less likely to receive continuing care compared with those seen in a surgery and three quarters of homes had to initiate dental care. In terms of patient referral, the majority of GDPs would refer uncooperative patients, salaried dentists would refer those with complex medical histories and community dentists would refer those requiring complex treatments. A dental assessment was undertaken in only 46% of homes with 81% of these keeping a record of dental care. The piloted standardised referral form was well received by all homes and was found to have a pivotal role in the initial assessment and appropriate dental referral of a new resident.

Conclusion: There is a need for a co-ordinated, patient orientated dental primary care service which can be easily accessed by elderly in long term care. The developed, standardised referral form has the potential to address this need.

Back to the Geriatric Oral Research Program
Back to the 81st General Session of the International Association for Dental Research (June 25-28, 2003)

Top Level Search