New project aims to improve the dental health of aged care residents

A large-scale project led by Professor Loc Do, the Director of Research at The University of Queensland's School of Dentistry will visit 28 aged care facilities in Queensland and NSW to teach staff to assess how orally healthy residents are, identify problems and ensure they receive the care they need.

Staff will be trained to use an oral health assessment tool, specifically designed by the Scholl of Dentistry for staff to use, with the aim of giving them the skills to spot issues early with the oral health of residents and to get them the care they need through referral to dentists.

It's a pressing problem notes Professor Do in an article carried by the university which notes that "older adults living in aged care facilities have the highest prevalence of poor oral health, with untreated tooth decay estimated to be as high as 70 per cent".

Addressing these trenchant issues which, if left untreated, lead to "impaired cognitive function, poorer nutrition, increased frailty, a heightened risk of respiratory infections, and declining overall health" needs to be a priority but is often impaired, says Professor Do, by "low staffing ratios, high workloads and competing priorities".

“By picking up issues such as gum disease and tooth decay earlier, we can intervene sooner, and help prevent serious complications, including malnutrition.” 

The project is a collaboration with Queensland Health, Moviliti Dental Care, Macquarie University, Anglicare, St Vincent’s Care, Fresh Hope Communities, the Whiddon Group, and has been funded by the Commonwealth Government’s Medical Research Future Fund.