Comprehensive Report: Oral Health Information and Patient Support

This report comprehensively addresses the critical aspects of providing oral health information and support to patients. It emphasizes the importance of educating patients on oral health, highlighting the role of national campaigns and the challenges faced by the NHS in ensuring equal access to care. The report delves into the necessity of obtaining patient consent, discussing treatment plans, and providing accurate and consistent information aligned with organizational guidelines. It underscores the need to tailor information to meet individual patient needs and preferences, reflecting the diverse nature of patient demographics and health requirements. The analysis covers various aspects of oral health including identifying inequalities, implementing national campaigns, and patient interactions.

Provide information and support to patients on protection of their oral health 1
Provide information and support to patients on protection of their oral health
Student’s Name:
Instructor’s Name:
Date:
1.1 Explain the reasons for providing the patients with oral health information

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Many a times, although patients are more aware of nutritional information about food and all the
other details pertaining to diseases, they lack in the knowledge about Oral health. The reason
behind this is that dental hygiene, or oral health usually does not take precedence when it comes
to awareness regarding our body. Hence, it is essential to provide Oral health information to all
patients, irrespective of their socioeconomic backgrounds.
The NHS spends nearly 3.5 billion euros in the Oral health of the patients around the United
Kingdom. It is, however, essential for the patients, for whom the procedures are aimed at, to
reach out to the various hospitals and clinics where the treatment is provided. Unless a person
approaches the health centre or understands the necessary steps to maintain dental hygiene, it
becomes extremely difficult for the NHS to provide sufficient treatments to them. This
awareness towards oral health can only happen, only when they know all information regarding
the necessity of maintaining Oral health.
Every year, over thousands of young and old suffer from various dental problems such as
carries, gum infection, and so on. Children figure out in large numbers with high levels of
dental problems. The main reason behind this is that their parents themselves do not hold too
much importance towards Oralhygiene, and simply ignore the problems, thinking that such
dental problems are inevitable.
Hence, the need for passing on sufficient information, both to the young and the old, is crucial
at this stage, for the health policies to pay off, and show some remarkable results.
It is the case of catching them young, with children. School can play a vital part in spreading
Oral health information through various seminars and meetings. The importance of ‘Prevention
is better than cure’ needs to be taught at a young age to avoid dental issues later on. The family,

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at the same time, need to be educated on the impacts of eating sugar or any such food which can
cause harmful effects on Oral Health. All this can only be possible, if sufficient information is
provided, and thus, ‘the patients or the would-be-patients’ need to be informed at an early stage
about the essentials of Oral health and hygiene.
Various causes of Oral health inequalities:
There are various technological advances in both dental and health practices. The experts,
however, are facing a whole lot of challenges, both in the UK and internationally, regarding
who or where the treatments can be diverted.
The challenges faced by the NHS and other international agencies around the world include:
 How to recognize sectors/areas which lag behind in receiving Oral health from the experts
 How or why the inequalities exist – is it because of their social background, and the way
they follow the dental hygiene?
 Ways to identify rectifying measures to bridge this gap in oral health and act towards
implementing it.
 Modifying health policies set by the NHS to ensure inequalities and other socioeconomic
concerns do not affect the treatments and preventive measures that are implemented by the
National Health services.
These inequalities should be overcome for the system to become effective. Theways suggested
by experts to deal with any such inequality in dental treatments across the socioeconomic classes
or patients from all parts of the country include:
 Mandatory application of fluoride in toothpastes and water

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 Provision of dental varnishes by Oral health practitioners (a change of regulation in the
process)
 Bridging the gap between the NHS and other healthcare systems for better
implementation of Oral health processes
 Bringing everyone under the NHS umbrella, including the children, for effective
treatment processes.
1.2 Why do we need to analyse current promotional campaigns to improve health and Oral
care.
As per the current analysis, there is a vast gap between the promotional campaigns run for Oral
health and the actual treatment received by those in need. Although the NHS has put across
several processes in place, such as universal fluoridation of water, setting up clinics and hospitals
in areas where Oral health needs special attention, and Pre-natal Oral health programs, there still
seems to be a bridge or inequality in receiving Oral health care, hugely due to socioeconomic
reasons.
This distance between the care that is available, and the ‘actual care’ that the patients avail, needs
to be bridged to ensure we have a foolproof system in place, pertaining to dental hygiene.
The reasons such as:
 The patient’s lack of knowledge regarding the Oral health regime
 Availability of inexpensive dental services (a wrong perception that Dental
treatments are expensive)
 No information about what is available on the NHS
 Lack of tools to optimize and monitoring of patient’s progress in Dental health

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Several such ineffectivenessexist in the present system, wherein not all are included or come into
the NHS umbrella, and thereby, are not in monitoring system. This unavailability of information
to everyone, or communication gap needs to be addressed effectively, to improve dental and Oral
care in the UK.
1.3 Explain how national campaigns can be implemented within dental settings.
Oral health comes very much under the integrated health care services that the NHS has at
present, and the campaigns that they have planned for the future. There are several other national
agencies and programs, too, such as the Department of health campaign, which has been working
relentlessly to provide Oral health care to all.
Many such campaigns, such as ‘National Smile month’, ‘Mouth cancer Action month’ and so on,
are aimed at ‘Dental health’ in view. Hence, since National campaigns are run to bring in each
and every patient towards thinking and acting for their Oral hygiene, several such smaller
initiativescan help pave the way for a better dental health among the patients in the UK.
When such national campaigns are conducted, with a particular motto, the focus is mainly on the
‘theme’ or the ‘subject’ on which the initiative is run. Take the ‘National Smile month, for
instance. Here, the Oral health foundation aims at providing good Oral health and hygiene
foreveryone. Since this is a ‘National Campaign’, particularly concentrating on the ‘Dental
settings’, it goes a long way in educating the patients and people from all socioeconomic
scenarios. Also, such campaigns can act as a way to spreading essential information and
knowledge about Dental hygiene, that otherwise, might not be known to several in the lower
income group or among the younger and school going children.

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2.1 Why do we need to check the identity of the patients and gain valid consent?
While the identity of a patient is helpful in tracking their progress at a later stage, and also in
establishing the genuinity of the person who has come for treatment, the gaining of consent is a
non-arguable matter. The medical ethics dictate that ‘Gaining the consent of a person’ is his or
her right, and is non-disputable in the medical profession.
Organisations like the NHS and other healthcare campaigns focus on bringing more and more
people into the fray, and help in providing Oral good health to all. This is one of the reasons
where the identity of the person, including his or her social status, the living conditions, and so
on, can give them information about their regular dental routine or the food intake. (The kind of
food we eat not only dictates the health of our inner being, but also our Oral hygiene) Thus,
knowing a person’s identity can decide on the course of treatment (including the cost) and
further consultations.
Similarly, the consent of an adult is essential to continue with the treatment. The Oral health
professional can, to the best of their knowledge, tell the patient about the consequences of not
undergoing a treatment, or what happens if the treatment is delayed. The decision of a patient, if
he is an adult, needs to be taken with his consent.
However, if we are talking about the children or an elderly person who is wary about making the
decisions, one can guide their guardians or parents, and let them know in detail about what kind
of treatment can be done to resolve the Oral health issue. A consent need to be obtained from the
parents or guardians, as per medical principles, to avoid any consequences such as suing for
breach of conduct or a mistreatment at a later stage. The same applies to those children or adult

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with special needs too. Here, although they might have crossed the ‘age of consent’, they might
not be in a position to decide for themselves, and thus, an intervention of an elder or guardian
comes into the picture.
2.2 How can you give patients the opportunity to discuss their treatment plans?
According to the general guidelines provided by the Dental Council, a treatment plan or the
general review, after a check-up, can be provided to the patients, verbally, or with a message
about meeting up again for consultation, after a certain period.
As an Oral health care professional, one can provide enough and detailed information about the
treatment, the number of visits involved in the process and also the cost incurred for it. Then, the
patients can be told to consider the treatment in detail, and come back as per the agreed time
limit, which is about a month, if the case is not urgent.
Now, the patient has the freedom to take a second opinion before the said date of the start of
treatment, to ensure they are in good hands, or just to know more about the procedure itself.
Equipped with information from you, and also with the knowledge about the procedure, they can
consult another specialist, or just discuss it with an elder or spouse or a guardian, before coming
back for reassessment, or just the start of the treatment.
2.3 Why do you provide information to the patients that is accurate, consistent and in with
the organizational guidelines?
Health care professionals have a definite set of principles and guidelines to follow, across the
healthcare system. Irrespective of what part of the health care system a medical practitioner is

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involved in, it is essential to follow the guidelines at every step. Hence, as per the organizational
guidelines, the information provided by the patient is sacrosanct, and confidential.
Similarly, the information that is provided ‘to’ the patient needs to be equally relevant, clear,
concise and true. Since the health care system is a chain network, and thereby the patient’s
details remain in the system, the treatments that are suggested by the healthcare professionals
also remain logged into the file.
Hence, providing the correct information about the treatment, be it the process or the cost, or any
other detail, is crucial for a medical practitioner, for two reasons:
a. It is in accordance with the guidelines set for medical practitioners, and hence, ethical and
correct.
b. Any wrong information can get filed along with the patient details, and can raise
questions about your credibility as a medical practitioner.
Although the second reason is as important to discuss here, the organizational guidelines are
something that every healthcare professional must adhere to, and hence, providing correct
information is crucial. In case you find that you might not be able to give all details regarding the
treatment or reassessment situations later on, you can always refer to an elder colleague or a
senior, to avoid confusion.
2.4 Why do we need to provide information that meets with the patient’s needs and
preferences?

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As we often notice, no two persons can be similar, no two patients are the same. Their needs,
preferences, food habits and work environment differ, and so should be the information provided
by their healthcare professional.
The health care system of the United Kingdom is vast, and has a myriad of small networks joined
together in a giant maze. Here, we find people from different socioeconomic backgrounds, and
ethnicity, with various other inequalities.
As a healthcare professional, it becomes our duty to understand the preferences of the person
before us, and give suggestions and information according to their requirements. A person who is
not educated or cannot afford treatment process for a particular ailment, may need assurance
about the scheme that can be availed to reduce the cause of the treatment. Similarly, if a person
works on a night shift, and cannot follow a strict diet regime, his or her preference needs to be
adhered to, while making up the health chart. Hence, everything depends upon the patient before
us, and the information needs to be personalised to suit them, and cannot be generalized.
Everything from their diet, personal belief, lifestyle, socioeconomic situation, culture, and most
importantly, the medical history, need to be consulted, reviewed and noted down, before
providing information.
2.5 Why do you need to communicate with patients in a manner that takes into account
their preferences and needs?
NHS focuses on ‘Patient centered’ approach, wherein each and every single needs of the patients
are to be taken care of, to provide effective healthcare. The UK government has been focusing on
running campaigns and programs to support Oral health, and while it is very much effective, it

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will be even more so, if one can concentrate on individual patients and give personalised
attention.
This ‘Personalised’ care that the NHS provides involves communicating as per the preferences
and needs. A person, even if he or she is an adult, and cannot or will not be able to take decisions
for themselves, may not be the right one to discuss about a complex treatment. They can be told
in a general way about the treatment and a guardian can be contacted for providing further
information.
Hence, communication is effective only when the other person is able to comprehend what we
are saying. It is, therefore, essential to note down the preferences and needs of patients before
communicating effectively.
2.6 Why do we need to answer patient’s questions in a manner that minimizes fear and
anxiety?
A patient might not know all information about a treatment or process, unless you can explain to
them about it. While fixing of braces or a root canal treatment might look simple to a healthcare
professional, it might look quite complicated for a layman.
Hence, a health care professional should, in clear and concise manner, explain to the patient
about the treatment, possible repercussions, if any, and confidently lead them to accept the
process. It is essential here, for the health care professionals to answer the patients confidently,
and shows compassion where required, in order to appease any fear or anxiety that they might
encounter.

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2.7 Why do we refer to the appropriate member of the team any questions or issues, which
are beyond the role of the dental nurse to answer?
It is crucial that the patient is provided with all the information and answers that they need to
know, before undergoing any treatment. The organizational guidelines suggest that patients need
to be informed about everything pertaining to the treatment, as per their needs and preference.
Hence, in accordance with this, the patients have the right for information. If in case a trained
dental nurse is not available or the one present cannot answer certain queries, it becomes
mandatory for them to refer to an appropriate member, to pacify and minimize any anxiety and
fear that the patient might feel. This ‘Appropriate member’ should be a trained practitioner, who
will be able to convey all that needs to be conveyed, and clarify any doubts that the patient
encounters.
2.8 Explain the system for internal and external referrals for advice, support and
treatment.
Many a times, as a health care professional, we tend to refer our patients to our colleagues and
external sources too. In such situations, it is essential to follow the below mentioned protocols-
a. If it is a colleague that we are referring to, the referral should be accompanied by detailed
and appropriate information about the patient.
b. If you are being asked by a colleague to do a treatment, then understand and cross check
the details before performing the same.

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c. For external references, it needs to be done as per guidelines, and also provide all
appropriate information. Check if the person (dental practitioner) you are referring to, is
appropriate for the treatment, before referring.
3.1 Explain the principles of preventive care.
Preventive care or preventive dentistry involves caring for one’s dental hygiene and health, to
avoid conditions such as cavities, gum infections, enamel wear, and so on.
Preventive dentistry focuses on:
 Everyday care- such as brushing, and cleaning your teeth, twice a day or protecting
tooth from sugary foods by cleaning immediately after, and so on.
 Maintenance- wherein a visit to a dental practitioner, once in six months or a year, to
clean and check for any cavities, and many more.
3.2 Explain how a patient’s Oral and physical health may be affected by:
Diet- Food is a panacea of all illness. What we intake matters most, not only for maintaining
shape or health, but also for oral health. Too much sugary snack, can destroy the enamel, form
cavities, and can cause many more risk to our oral hygiene and health.
Medication and medical condition – Some medicines too can cause severe PROBLEMS related
to oral health. This applies to medical conditions too, wherein, despite being a problem unrelated
to dental health, it can still affect our teeth and gums. A thorough checkup to detect these hidden
medical ailments is required before providing treatment for dental condition.

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Psychological effect and substance abuse, can also create problems in oral health. While
cigarette smoking or recreational drugs can be worst enemies to dental hygiene, since one cannot
expect a drug addict to maintain oral hygiene), psychological problems also have similar effects.
3.3 Why do we need to provide patients with Oral health information?
One of the main focuses of the NHS is to provide appropriate and relevant information about the
importance of Oral hygiene to all patients, irrespective of their cultural, or socioeconomic divide.
The reason behind this is that experts in dental health believe, with the right information,
preventive dentistry will be successful.
When an adult is provided with all information, he or she will pass it on to the children and
family members, thereby reducing the problems related to dental health in them. This, in turn,
will lead to a chain reaction, wherein several can be made to follow a strict dental regime to
maintain good oral health.
Explaining the patients about the harmful effects of a particular diet, or about the simple regime
they need to follow, can go a long way in providing dental care for all.
3.4 How do you prepare and use oral health education aids on patients?
Models- A denture model, displayed in a prominent place in the clinic can help in explaining
information about a treatment to be performed, or simply about what happens if dental hygiene is
not followed. Since the dental models are made to resemble our teeth, it can aid in better
assimilation of information among the patients.

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Visual aids- Visual aids, such as a video or any other picture, put up on the wall, are equally
informative for a layman, who does not know anything about the workings of a denture. These
can be used not only inside the clinics, but can also be utilized on outdoor camps and schools to
educate the children and adults alike, about dental hygiene. Visual aids form a best platform for
teaching oral hygiene across age groups and cultures.
Leaflets- Small pamphlets, can be distributed across various communities, to circulate
information. Leaflets can help spreading information about oral hygiene and will have a far
higher reach than meetings.
3.5. How can you advise patients on Suitable oral hygiene techniques?
Cleansing the teeth – Brushing teeth twice daily, with a fluoride toothpaste can help in
maintaining dental health. Do not wash immediately with water, as the fluoride will wash away,
and prevent the protective coating to be formed, thereby reducing the goodness of using fluoride
toothpaste. Use mouthwash after a few minutes of washing, to prevent fluoride from getting
washed away.
Use of Interdental aids- Interdental aids can help in cleaning beneath and between the teeth. It
will prevent accumulation of carries, and thereby prevent tooth decay and maintain dental
hygiene. Hence, use them regularly, once in a day, to maintain Oral health and hygiene.
Mouthwash rinses- Use a fluoride mouthwash and never immediately after brushing. Mouthwash
can rinse away all the fluoride provided by the toothpaste. Hence, ensure you use it only after a
few minutes of brushing your teeth.

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Disclosing agents – Plague, if formed in excess, can cause damage to your gums and also hinder
the maintenance of dental hygiene. Use a disclosing agent/tablet, to know how much plague you
have, to book an appointment with your dentist. Disclosing agents can be used after brushing, to
understand the level of plague that has developed, and will it need immediate attention or not.
3.6 Cleaning and care for dentures:
Dentures are external fittings, and should be taken enough care to prevent damaging your dental
health. They need to be cleaned regularly, twice a day, and also rinsed as and when you eat.
Dentures are expensive, and delicate. If not handled properly, you might damage its settings.
Hence, handle them carefully, and keep a dedicated place for storing it, when you want to
remove them for any reason. Remove your dentures overnight, and soak them in the solution
provided, to avoid them from becoming brittle. Rinse out the solution, while putting them back.

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References:
Public Health England. 2014. Local authorities improving oral health: commissioning better oral
health for children and young people [pdf]. Available at
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/321503/
CBOHMaindocumentJUNE2014.pdf [Accessed 10 February 2017].
NHS UK. 2016. Consent to treatment. Available at http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/consent-to-
treatment/pages/introduction.aspx [Accessed 10 February 2017].
General Dental Council. Principles of dental team working [pdf]. Available at
http://www.gdcuk.org/dentalprofessionals/standards/documents/
principlesofdentalteamworking_br0591_1.pdf [Accessed 10 February 2017].