Intellectual Impairment and Dentistry Flashcards
Dental services should be provided in a way that…? (3)
- Recognises everyone as an individual
- Recognises that everyone has a right to participate in decisions that affect their lives
- Provides the amount of support necessary to enable everyday living, including adequate health care
What are the barriers to oral health that someone with a learning disability might face? (4)
- User/carer
- Professional service providers
- Physical barriers
- Cultural issues
What are the benefits for primary care access for people with an intellectual impairment? (6)
- Learning disability is more common in families of a lower SES
- Proximity - financial, work, transport for person +/- carer
- Relationships may already be established
- Family members may attend practice
- Longitudonal care - prevention and follow up
- Equal opportunities to services
What can make going to a dental surgery for treatment easier for a person with an intellectual impairment?(6)
- Preparation
- Social stories (autism)
- Hospital/health passport
- Pre-visit (scout the place out)
- Multiple visits with slow progress
- Liase with community disability nurse/team for help
On arrival, what can make it easier for a patient with an ontellectual impairment? (3)
Timing of appointment for you ans the patient
- Start of session - not running late
- Give yourself time
- Best time of day for the patient (missing activity/routine/best mood/medications)
- Take patient straight into the surgery
- Limit time spent in the waiting room
How would we use verbal communication when communicating with someone with an intellectual impairment?
- Speak naturally and clealry
- Ask to repeat the information of you don’t understand
- Ask questions that can be answered yes or no if possible
- Don’t lead patient responses
- Allow enough time to communicate with your patient as they may speak more slowly
- Don’t interrupt or finish your patient’s sentences - wait for them to finish
- Repeat the question if they don’t understand
What adjuncts to communication can we use with a person with an intellectual impairment? (6)
- Makaton
- Picture boards
- Letter boards
- Talking mats
- Draw
- Write
We want to create the right atmosphere for a patient with an intellectual impairment. How would we do this? (6)
- Non threatening environment
- Friendly
- Acclimatise - multiple visits
- Consider augmentive techniques - relaxation/music
- Can be fun, singing + laughing
- Nut don’t lookse control
On examination of a person with an intellectual impairment we want to gain access to the mouth. How might we do this? (6)
- Bedi shield
- Open wide mouth rests
- Toothbrush
- Mirror
- Good light
- Head support - ask consent
What is a bedi sheild?
- It is made of plastic and you put it on your finger and you have to get the person open - you then stick it in between their occlusion and the person will rest or bite down on that piece of plastic
- These have been known to fracture inside the mouth
What is clinical holding and when should it take place?
- IT is where you help to support the person if they are unable to co-operate
Should only take place:
- If patient consents
- If no capacity is deemed of benefit - patient may present a safety risk to them and others
- Unplanned emergencies, where any patient presents a significant risk
- Always record in the notes and justify
- Has to be of benefit and in the patients best interest
- It is a form of restraint and needs to be scrutinised fully
What do we want to find out in the medical history of someone with an intellectual impairment? (4)
Medical conditions:
- Epilepsy
- Psychiatric conditions
- Congenital defects in other systems - down’s syndome and congenital heart defect
- Liase with colleagues
What do we want to find our in the social history of someone with an intellectual impairment? (4)
- Living arrangements
- Support
- Transport
- Likes/dislikes
What do we need to do in terms of capacity for someone with an intellectual impairment? (6)
- Assess
- Principles
- What can they understand and comprehend
- What about retention
- Each decision is specific
- POA, Welfare guardian or nearest relative
What do we need to do in terms of treatment planning for a person with an intellectual impairment? (6)
- Individual
- Co-operation
- Holistic
- Oral health -risk factors
- The complexity of treatment provided may be influenced by the severity of the learning disability
- Realistic