New Dental Scheme for Patients with Learning Disabilities Hailed a Success
A new dental scheme, which aims to provide dental patients with learning disabilities with more information about oral health, has been hailed a success. The programme, which was run by students from the Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise Team, has created a number of new dental ambassadors.
The newly trained ambassadors will now impart their wisdom and pass on their knowledge to friends, family members and other young people with learning disabilities living in the Plymouth area.
As part of the programme, young people attended sessions, which taught them about the importance of good oral hygiene and healthy eating. The group was encouraged to take part in interactive activities and learning workshops, using props such as giant teeth and brushes. The goal was to provide the participants with knowledge and information, which would enable them to take steps to look after their teeth and gums and reduce the risk of oral diseases.
Claire Dawe and Luke Garland are just two of the people who have benefited from the Peninsula scheme. They are now excited about getting out into the community to teach other young people about oral health matters. The group’s feedback was very positive and they felt that the experience had been hugely rewarding, as well as being informative and valuable.
Wendy Smith, from Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise, said that it has been very satisfying to see the positive impact the project has had on local people. This is the first scheme of its kind in the UK and the team is already looking forward to rolling out the project into other areas of the West Country.
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