Queensland dentist issues warning over dental care ‘time bomb’
A dentist from Queensland has issued a warning over an impending time bomb, which is due to hit as a result of poor standards of oral healthcare for older people.
Greg Moore, from Rockhampton, claims that elderly people are being let down, as a result of poor provision of dental care in care homes and centres for older people. Dr Moore, a former president of the Queensland Dental Association, said that he has seen a growing number of older people who had developed dental issues after moving to a care home.
In many cases, older patients aren’t able to clean their teeth properly, and a lack of oral hygiene increases the risk of dental disease. Dr Moore said that the simple fact is that somebody else has to do it for them, but nursing home staff don’t have the training to recognise signs of dental health issues or the knowledge to prevent such problems. If they’re expected to care for patients’ dental health, they should be provided with the relevant training.
People are living longer, and it’s no longer the case that care home residents are dependent on dentures. Many have their own teeth, but once they move into care, their dental health deteriorates. Dr Moore believes that training should be provided, and dental services should be more readily available for those who can’t get out to see a dentist. He suggested that care homes should designated dental providers, which would encourage continual care and prevent patients from having to leave the home to get the treatment they need.
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