Who are we?
The Oral Health Improvement Team covers 5 portfolios from birth right through to care of the elderly.
The Caring for Smiles Team is the portfolio dedicated to the oral health needs of an older person. The team has 4 Dental Health Support Workers who look after approximately 26 care homes each geographically spread Pan Lothian, an Oral Health Improvement Practitioner, 1 Dental Hygienist (1 session per week) and an Oral Health Improvement Coordinator.
Why is oral health important?
A clean healthy mouth is fundamental to everybody’s quality of life. Oral conditions are not only painful and distressing they have an impact on a person’s ability to eat, speak and are increasingly linked to a number of other health problems.
How can we help?
The Caring for Smiles Team can support care homes by:
- Supplying and helping complete an Oral Health Risk Assessment for every resident
- Supplying and helping complete a Daily Oral Health Plan for all oral care
- Providing bespoke oral care training for each establishment theory and practical based
- Marking residents dentures
- Signposting for registration / care with a Dental Practice
- Referral into Oral Health Service if specialist oral health care is required
The Caring for Smiles Team visit each establishment every 8 – 10 weeks to check that every resident has an Oral Health Risk Assessment and Daily Oral Care Plan in place. At each visit the team liaise with all staff and report directly back to Care Home Manager / Deputy or Nurse in Charge / Team Leader.
What training can we offer?
We can offer basic oral care training theory and practical demonstration when we visit your care home. Theory training covers completion of an Oral health Risk Assessment and Daily Oral care Plan.
For further information on training offered please see the Oral Care Education Page
How do I make a Referral?
Please complete a yellow referral form copies are in the Caring for Smiles Manual and send to:
Pathway Office
Oral Health Service
Duncan Street Dental Centre
16 Duncan Street
Edinburgh
EH9 1SR
Urgent referrals may be emailed to: pds.pathway@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk
Useful Resources
Caring for Smiles: A guide for Care Homes
Caring for Smiles: A guide to dental services, treatment charges and exemptions for care home residents
This is a down loadable version of the guide which gives care home managers, staff and residents families essential information to help them ensure residents receive the most appropriate and timely dental treatment.
Caring for Smiles: Oral care for older people who need support – a guide for families and friends
This guide gives care home managers, staff and residents families the essential information to help them ensure residents receive the most appropriate and timely dental treatment from the dental service that is best suited to their needs.
Caring for Smiles – A guide for carers
This is a downloadable version of the handout given to staff who attend training. It contains the central messages delivered in the Caring for Smiles training sessions
Caring for Smiles Community Page
Caring for Smiles Community on The Knowledge Network, administered by NHS Education for Scotland. Some areas of this site are closed to tutors, but others are open to all. – Doesn’t work
Further information
For information relating to oral health referral processes and training please see the following webpages.
Oral Health: Referral Pathway
Oral Care: Training
