NEW guidelines to help dentists provide better care for patients with dementia are now available free of charge online.
Dementia-friendly dentistry from the Faculty of General Dental Practice UK (FGDP UK) advises dentists how to adapt their patient management and clinical decision making. Written with input from organisations such as the Alzheimer’s Society, it covers:
- The epidemiology and diagnosis of dementia, and its implications for dental professionals
- Principles of care management, including patient identification, competence and referrals, communication, consent and capacity • Clinical care, including history taking, treatment planning, care delivery and prescribing
- Site-specific considerations for dental practices, care homes and domiciliary care.
It also includes information about local support, educational programmes and resources for patients as well as more than 50 recommendations for practitioners.
First published in hard copy in October 2017, the guidance has now been added to the Faculty’s Standards Online portal.
FGDP UK dean Dr Mick Horton said: “In the UK, dementia affects one person in 20, and its incidence among general dental patients is only likely to increase as the population ages. It’s vital that as a profession we understand it, and adapt our patient management and clinical decisions accordingly.”
This page was correct at the time of publication. Any guidance is intended as general guidance for members only. If you are a member and need specific advice relating to your own circumstances, please contact one of our advisers.
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