Special Care Dentistry Flashcards
Topics covered : Patients with learning/physical disabilities and autism, AWI, Adult support and protection act and other key legislations, Dentistry for the medically compromised patient, anxiety management
What reasons may make a patient unable to accept routine dental care therefore requiring referral to Special Care?
Due to:
- Physical Impairment
- Intellectual Impairment
- Medical Impairment
- Emotional Impairment
- Sensory Impairment
- Mental Impairment
- Social Impairment
- Or a combination of the above
This can involve:
- Learning/Physical disability
- Care for elderly
- Medically compromised
- Mental health issues
- Dentally anxious or phobic
Before treating any patient what 2 factors are important to consider?
- Is it safe?
- e.g. MH and how it may impact their tx. - Is it legal?
- does the pt. understand
- have we checked
- do they have capacity
- do we need consent from someone other than the pt.
- who can we contact and how?
The 2010 Equality Act states that it is against the law to discriminate against someone because of?
- Age
- Disability
- Gender reassignment
- Marriage and Civil Partnership
- Pregnancy and maternity
- Race
- Religion or belief
- Sex
- Sexual Orientation
A person with a disability is defined as having a physical/mental impairment.
Note the 6 most common impairments:
- Mobility
- Stamina/breathing/fatigue
- Dexterity
- Mental health
- Hearing
- Vision
List 6 causes of physical disabilities:
- Inherited or genetic
- Conditions present at birth
- Serious illness affecting the brain, nerves, or muscles
- Spinal cord injuries
- Brain injury
- Accidents
List 2 inherited/genetic disorders that can cause a physical disability:
- Osteogenesis imperfecta
- Dentinogenesis imperfecta
What physical affects can Osteogenesis imperfecta have on the patient?
- Increased bone fractures
- Collagen defects
- Short stature
- Hearing loss
- Blue sclera
- Dentinogenesis imperfecta
What physical affects can Dentinogenesis imperfecta have on the patient?
- Discoloured teeth - blue/grey or yellow/brown
- Translucent
- Teeth are weaker
- Bulbous crowns
- Obliteration of pulp chambers
- Reduced root length
List 2 conditions present at birth cthat can cause a physical disability:
- Spinal Bifida - neural tube defect
- Cerebral palsy - general term for several neurological conditions
What physical affects can Spinal Bifida have on the patient?
- Weakness or total paralysis of the legs
- Bowel and urinary incontinence
- Loss of skin sensation
- Hydrocephalus
- In most cases normal intelligence but learning difficulties associated with hydrocephalus
- Repeated fits or seizures
- Drooling problems and dysphasia
- Communication and learning difficulties
- Not progressive, life expectancy not affected
What physical affects can Cerebral palsy have on the patient?
Affects movement and coordination:
- Muscle stiffness or floppiness
- Muscle weakness
- Random and uncontrolled body movements
- Balance and coordination problems
List 3 serious illnesses that affect the brain, nerves or muscles:
- Motor neurone disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Parkinson’s disease
What physical affects can Motor Neurone Disease have on the patient?
Lethal degenerative disease affecting neurons - can cause:
- Muscular atrophy, weakness & spasticity
- No sensory loss
- Dysphasia and drooling can occur, affecting speech
- Death within 5 years due to respiratory arrest
What physical affects can Multiple Sclerosis have on the patient?
Chronic relapsing CNS disease affecting the corticospinal tract and myelin sheaths:
- Optic Neuritis can lead to blindness or visual disturbance
- Weakness or paralysis of limbs
- Nystagmus (jerky, oscillating movement of the eyes)
- Ataxia (affects coordination, balance, speech)
- Dysphasia
- Loss of sphincter control leading to urinary incontinence
- May present as V neuralgia or facial palsy
What physical affects can Parkinsons disease have on the patient?
Progressive neurological disease causing:
- Dopamine deficiency
- Tremor in arms/hands - pill rolling
- Rigidity in movement
- Slow movements and restlessness
- Expressionless face and stooped posture
- Hyper-salivation resulting in drooling of saliva
List and describe the 2 different levels of spinal cord injuries:
- Tetraplegic
- damage to the spinal cord in the neck
- affects all four limbs and torso - Paraplegic
- damage to the mid/lower part of the back
- affects legs and lower body
List 5 causes of spinal cord injuries:
- Falls
- RTAs
- Sports injuries
- Trauma
- Work-related accidents
List 2 different causes of brain injury:
- External events:
- closed head trauma
- missile penetrating the brain - Internal events:
- Stroke (CVA - cerebrovascular accident)
- Tumour
List 8 clinical features of stroke:
- Face drooped on 1 side
- Weakness/numbness in 1 arm
- Dysphagia
- Aphasia - unable to communicate
- Dysarthria - Slurred speech
- Sudden loss/blurring of vision
- Confusions
- Sudden and severe headache
How might a stroke affect a patients dental health?
- Difficulty wearing dentures
- Difficulty brushing teeth
- Giving consent
- Accessing surgery (wheelchair)
What acronym can be used when identifying a stroke?
F - face drooping
A - arms weakness
S - speech difficulty
T - time to call 999
What outcomes from accidents (e.g. RTAs, falls, sports injuries) can affect a patient’s physical ability?
- Missing limbs
- Prosthetic limbs
- Reduced manual dexterity
- Stick/zimmer
- Wheelchair
What IQ number classifies someone as having a learning disability?
<70
List 6 other features that might be associated with a learning disability:
- Epilepsy
- Visual defects
- Hearing and speech disorders
- Facial deformities
- Body rocking and self-mutilation
- Feeding difficulties
List 3 causes of learning disabilities:
- Genetic
- Problems during pregnancy/birth
- Post-natal problems
Name 2 different types of learning disabilities:
- Down Syndrome
- Fragile X Syndrome
Which extra chromosome causes down syndrome?
An extra chromosome 21
List 5 physical features of a typical patient with down syndrome:
- Atlanta-axial joint instability
- Short stature
- Brachycephaly
- Widely spaced upward slanting eyes
- Weight gain
List 8 health conditions that are associated with Down Syndrome:
- Cardiac problems
- Spinal problems
- Malignant disease
- Dementia
- Immune disease
- Hearing loss
- Visual defects
- Seizures
List 10 oral features associated with down syndrome:
- Large tongue
- Thick, dry and fissured lips
- Poor anterior oral seal
- Tongue thrust
- Early onset perio disease - most likely due to poor immune system
- Cleft lip and palate
- Malocclusion
- Delayed tooth eruption
- Missing teeth
- Morphological abnormalities
What patient management considerations are made when caring for a patient that has Fragile X Syndrome?
The patient may have:
- Short attention span
- Hyperactivity
- Behavioural disorders similar to autism
- Abnormally frequent open bite and cross bite
What other health conditions might patients with autism have?
- Learning disabilities
- ADHD
- Dyslexia
- Anxiety/depression
- Epilepsy
- Other conditions - visual/hearing impairment
Which health professionals may be involved in the multidisciplinary management of a patient with autism?
- Speech therapist
- Paediatrician
- Psychiatrist +/-psychologist
Describe the typical clinical presentation of a patient with autism:
- Live in their ‘own world’
- Avoid eye contact
- Echolalia - meaningless repetition of words
- Unaware of others
- Practice repetitive actions
- Obsessional desire to follow a routine
- Self-mutilation
- Sensitivity to touch, smell and sound
List 5 oral findings may be apparent in a patient with autism?
- Bruxism
- Traumatic
- Poor OH
- Poor attender
- Prefer sweet foods
For a patient with autism what must be seen prior to providing patient treatment?
AWI certificate
List 5 symptoms of visual impairment:
- Reduction or loss of vision
- Eye pain
- Burning sensation
- Gritty feeling
- Blurring of vision
List 6 potential causes of visual impairment:
- Glaucoma
- Cataract
- Macular degeneration
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Trachoma
- Hemianopia
Which visual fields are affected by Glaucoma?
Peripheral vision
(glaucoma - globe (e.g. peripheral))
What causes glaucoma?
A rise in intraocular pressure
(normal range 15-20mmHg)
Is glaucoma often unilateral or bilateral?
And is the patients vision likely to recover?
Often bilateral (one eye affected before the other).
The patient’s vision will never recover.
How might a cataract affect vision?
Causes clouding of the lens in the eye.
Can cause difficulty with bright lights and seeing at night.
(cataract - cloudy)
Which visual field is affected by macular degeneration?
Central vision
(macular - middle)
Which type of macular degeneration is more severe and why?
The wet type is more severe as it causes rapid sight loss of central vision over a matter of months
List 7 causes of hearing impairment:
- Inherited
- Congenital
- Infections
- Trauma
- Drugs
- Foreign bodies
- Excessive noise
Which different types of hearing aids are available?
- Behind the ear aids
- In the ear aids
- In the canal aids
- Hearing implants - bone anchored hearing aids, cochlear implants, auditory brain stem implants, middle ear implants
Which legal document exists to support and protect adults (>16yrs) who are:
- Unable to safeguard their well-being, property or interests
- At risk of harm
- More risk because they are affected by a disability, mental disorder, or physical/mental infirmity
The Adult Support and Protection Act 2007
In Scotland, what age is a person classified as “an adult”?
16 years old
What are the 5 different types of harm?
- Financial
- Physical
- Emotional/Psychological
- Sexual
- Neglect
At what point should you intervene when you suspect that your patient is undergoing some form of harm?
Intervene only when:
- The intervention will benefit the adult, which could not reasonably be provided without intervention.
- The chosen intervention is likely to succeed and is least restrictive of the adult’s freedom.
Who must you contact if there is any concerns of immediate harm?
999
Who can you speak to if you suspect a patient is undergoing non-immediate harm?
- Line manager, colleague, principle
- Follow adult protection policy in the practice
- Defence union/society for advice/support
- Local Health and Social Care partnership - Adult protection team
If there is concern that a proxy may be causing harm the dependant, who may you contact?
Welfare powers - contact social work
Financial powers - contact OPG
General advice - contact Mental Welfare Commission
List the 6 principles of Adult Safeguarding:
- Empowerment
- Prevention
- Proportionality
- Protection
- Partnership
- Accountability
Which legal act protects adults in Scotland from any type of harm that occurs within the context of a relationship between partners (married/cohabiting/civil partnership or ex-partners)?
The Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018
What is coercive control? Give examples:
Controlling behaviour is designed to make a person dependent.
Examples:
- Isolation from support
- Exploiting them
- Depriving them of independence
- Regulating behaviour
How can you report domestic abuse?
- Contact 999 if threat to life
- Contact 101 if ongoing situation
- Report to local police station
What can be asked anonymously at the pharmacy to get help when someone is facing domestic abuse?
Ask for ANI (Action Needed Immediately)
List 5 different types of exploitation covered in the Human Trafficking and Exploitation Act 2015?
- Slavery
- Forced Labour
- Prostitution
- Removal of Organs
- Securing services and benefits
What 3 things make consent valid?
It must be:
1. Informed
2. Given freely
3. Given by a capable patient
What 5 things may define a patient as incapable?
If the patient is unable to:
- Act based on information OR
- Make a decision OR
- Communicate a decision OR
- Understand a decision OR
- Retain memory of a decision (consistency)
*in relation to a mental disorder or inability to communicate
How might you check that the patient has understood and has the capacity to consent?
“It’s my responsibility to check that we are all on the same page and that you understand what you will be expecting at your next appointment, is it okay if you explain it to me in your own words”
“Explain it as if they were explaining it to a family member” - ONLY use this technique if they have mentioned a family member
“It’s important for me to double check”
Who does the Adults with Incapacity Act 2000 apply to?
Anyone aged 16 or over who is incapable.
What must the patient have before being classified as incapable by certificate?
Must have a diagnosis
What are the 5 key principles that should be addressed before issuing a Section 47 Certificate to a patient who lacks capacity to consent to dental treatment?
- Benefit - must directly benefit the patient.
- Least restrictive of their freedom.
- Past and present wishes - the patient’s past and present wishes must be taken into account.
- Consult with relevant others (could be relative, social worker, doctor)
- Encourage residual capacity
What is a proxy?
Someone who has been authorised to act on behalf of an adult with incapacity.
- A substitute decision-maker
- Legally recognised
What are the 3 different types of proxies?
- Power of Attorney
- Guardianship
- Intervener
Who can grant a Power of Attorney?
Any adult can grant a power of attorney whilst they have capacity to choose who they wish to act on behalf, should the need arise.
What must happen to make a power of attorney official?
- Must be in writing
- Must be registered with an OPG (office of the public guardian)
Do powers of attorney have an expiry date?
No - however powers of attorney can resign if necessary.
What are the 3 different type of power of attorney?
- Welfare - diet, dress, medical, dental
- Continuing - house, bills
- Joint/Combined - welfare + continuing
What must you check to confirm that someone is an official authorised proxy?
- Check the original copy/lawyer-endorsed copy of the certificate of registration of power of attorney - must read the bulk of the document and find the text that says:
‘The power to consent or withhold consent to medical and dental treatment’
- Can also check with OPG via email
What CAN’T a WPoA do?
- They cannot have more power than a capable patient
- They cannot authorise the use of force
When is a guardianship granted?
When an adult either:
- No longer has the capacity to choose who they want to make decisions for them.
- Or has never been able to make their own decisions.
How is a guardianship granted?
It is granted by a Sheriff through a court process
What is required before granting a guardianship?
2 medical reports and 1 social work report
What must a guardianship be registered with?
The guardianship must be registered with an OPG
How long does a guardianship normally last?
Usually lasts up to a max of 3 years - however this is up to the Sheriff.
If a patient is incapable to make a particular decision and there is a proxy with relevant welfare powers, what should you do?
- Follow the 5 key principles of the AWI (BLPCE)
- Get consent from the proxy
- Have an AWI (Section 47) certificate issued
If a patient is incapable to make a particular decision and there is NO proxy with relevant welfare powers, what should you do?
- Follow the 5 key principles of the AWI
- Have an AWI (Section 47) certificate issued - this certificate authorises treatment to go ahead
What is always required before commencing with treatment, when a patient is deemed incapable, even if there is a proxy?
An AWI certificate
An incapable patient attends for emergency treatment without a proxy. You try to contact relatives however unable to get in touch.
What should you do?
Treat the patient however be very clear and thorough when documenting your notes.
Never leave the patient in pain/refuse to treat them.
What is dementia?
The loss of memory, difficulties with language, problem solving, and other thinking abilities that worsens over time.
List some risk factors of dementia:
Age
Gender - W>M
Ethnicity
Genetics
Down syndrome
Medical factors - T2DM, hypertension, high cholesterol, obesity, depression
Lifestyle factors - physical inability, smoking, unhealthy diet, excessive alcohol
Head injuries
What brain condition is linked to repeated knocks to the head during sport and can lead to a specific form of dementia?
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy
How can you reduce the risk factors of getting dementia?
Stay mentally and physically active, stop smoking, eat healthily and maintain a healthy weight, reduce alcohol consumption, be social.
List the 5 different types of dementia:
- Alzheimers
- Vascular
- Mixed (Alz + Vas)
- Lewy-Body
- Fronto-temporal
Which type of dementia presents as a slow and steady decline?
Alzheimers
How does Alzheimers typically present?
- Short-term memory loss
- Word-finding difficulties
- Slow and steady decline
- More confusion with progression
- May experience mood swings and frustration and become more withdrawn.