27
Volume1 Issue3
|
I
ssues and
P
eople
programs for dental auxiliaries to
expand their scopeof services toelderly
peopleare similarly scarce.
53
HolisticApproach
Acurriculum ingeriatrics can
increase knowledgeandclinical skills,
but typically fails toeliminate the
negative stereotypingassociatedwith
aging.
69,70
For instance, two surveys
of BritishColumbiadentists, one
conductedabout 20years ago
71
and
theothermore recently,
72
found
a similar disinterest ingeriatric
dentistry.Most dentistsperceived
domiciliary servicesbeyond their
clinical responsibilitiesbecauseof time
constraints, administrativedemands,
meagrefinancial incentiveand limited
education. Educational efforts should
focusmore keenlyon the social
responsibilities rather than thebusiness
of clinical practice, in thehope that
dentists instilledwithhumanistic
characteristicswill address theneeds
of disadvantagedcommunities.
67,73-75
Perhaps recruitingpeoplewith
empathyandaltruism for admission to
dental anddental hygieneprograms
could help toachievemoreholisticand
equitableprofessional oral healthcare
for the rapidlyagingpopulation.
Conclusion
Inequity inoral carearises from
financial, behavioural andphysical
barriers, and remains achallenge for
older Canadians.
3
Webelieve that the
healthprofessions, alongwithCanadian
government agencies, havea social
responsibility to reduce this inequity for
thebenefit of all by implementing the
following5 strategies:
1.
Encourageagovernment-
administereduniversal dental plan
supportedfinanciallyby redirecting
thepremiums currentlypaid for
privatedental insurance ineach
provinceand territory
2.
Promoteoral healthcarewidely
to increaseawareness and
enhance the skillsof careproviders
responsible for older people
3.
Establishofficial guidelines for
standardsof oral carewithinall care
facilities to reducecomplications
fromoral diseases and improve
qualityof lifeamong residents
living in the facilities
4.
Developandexpandeducational
programs indental geriatrics for
dental professionals interested in
expanding their scopeof practice
in thecareof peoplewhoare
elderlyand frail
5.
Review theadmissioncriteria
for dental anddental hygiene
programs topromote the selection
of applicantswithmature social
andhumanisticvalues suitable
formanagingchronicdiseaseand
disability inanagingpopulation.
a
References
Complete list of references available at:
CDA INITIATIVES
ONSENIORS’ORAL
HEALTH
CDArecognizesthatseniorshave
uniqueoralhealthneeds.TheCDA
AccesstoCareWorkingGroup is
workingtominimizethebarriersto
oralhealthcarethatmanyseniors
experience,particularlythose in
long-termcare (LTC) facilities.Given
thatmostprovinces lackstandards
oforalhealthcare forLTC facilities,
CDA isrecommendingthatallLTC
facilitiesmeetthe followingminimum
standardsoforalhealthcare:
• Anoralhealthscreeningupon
admission
• Anannualexaminationbyadentist
• Adailymouthcareplan
• Suitable infrastructuretosupport
theappropriatedeliveryofneeded
dentalcare
Toworktowardsachievingthese
minimumstandards,CDA’sAccessto
CareWorkingGrouphasdeveloped
advocacytoolsthat includesample
legislation foruse inany jurisdiction.
CDAalsoheldadvocacytraining for
dentists inthe fallof2013tohelp
facilitategovernmentengagement
onthis issue.
CDA isalsorecommendingthat
VeteransAffairsCanadaensurethese
minimumstandardsare inplace for
veterans inLTC facilities.
