New dental pilot aimed to reduce stress for dementia patients receives positive feedback in Southend
A new pilot programme, which has been launched to make going to the dentist less stressful for patients with dementia, has received positive feedback in Southend.
Public Health England started the new scheme to help patients with dementia get to the dentist safely and eliminate distress and discomfort during appointments. To make the process less daunting for patients, experts have put together a toolkit, which is designed to facilitate communication between dental professionals and patients. Packed with resources and easy-read leaflets and posters, the kits help dentists and nurses prepare for appointments with patients who have dementia.
It is estimated that around 19,000 people in Thurrock and Southend live with dementia, and the number is expected to rise to more than 25,000 over the course of the next decade. Public Health England has been working with Southend’s clinical commissioning group to establish and break down potential barriers, which may have prevented patients with dementia going to the dentist on a regular basis. The group’s research indicated that carers found it difficult to provide oral care and they also had trouble explaining what happens when you go to the dentist and preparing the patient for a trip to the dental clinic. There were also concerns about a lack of dementia-friendly dental services in the area.
Cassie Searle, who cared for her father, has been involved in the initiative. She used her own experiences, which included encountering difficulties getting her dad to go to the dentist and an episode where her father became very scared and anxious because he was greeted by a nurse in an apron, to create the resource for carers and dental professionals.
Dental programme manager at PHE in the East of England, Samantha Glover, said that the aim was to provide resources that benefit both patients and dental professionals and carers. The resources can act as a guideline or a prompt for dentists and help to ensure that patients know what to expect when they attend an appointment.
Crowstone Dental Practice is one of the practices that has been participating in the pilot, and so far, the feedback from patients, carers and relatives has been very positive.
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