Oral Health Screening: Geoskin Sdn Bhd

Geriatric dentistry and Special Needs dentistry is about the delivery of dental care to older adults and special children involving diagnosis, prevention, management and treatment of problems associated with age related diseases .The mouth is referred to as a mirror of overall health, reinforcing that oral health is an integral part of general health. In the elderly population and Special needs children poor oral health has been considered a risk factor for general health problems. Older adults are more susceptible to oral conditions or diseases due to an increase in chronic conditions and physical/mental disabilities. Provision of oral health care at the door step for the Elderly and Special Needs should be our priority in Oral Health promotion.

The aim of this ORAL SCREENING PROGRAM with a private Esthetic company is to create oral health awareness and promote oral health among the elderly. This is an outreach programme carried out by the year 5 undergraduates and 2 postgraduates as part of their curriculum under the supervision of the Dental Public Health lecturers in collaboration with Geoskincare Sdn Bhd at SOServ Welfare Malaysia at Taman Kanagapuram , Jalan Kelang Lama on the 29th of September 2022. A total of 30 participants were attended to.

The objective of this Dental Camp was:

1. To provide oral health screening and treatment for all the elderly and special children
2. To raise oral health awareness among the elderly, special children and care givers.
3. To provide oral health education to the caregivers on common dental diseases such as tooth decay and gum disease and measures to prevent them.
4. To provide oral hygiene instructions to the caregivers.
5. We carried out activities as listed below:
6. Develop a routine with oral hygiene care at the same time every day with the patients input as to when is most convenient
7. Undertake oral care in a quiet distraction-free environment
8. Use of short, simple sentences and directions
9. Use of task-breakdown and one-step instructions placement of a step-by-step poster illustrating each step
10. Use of non-verbal cues e.g., facial expressions, hand gestures, body language (reassuring patient)
11. Gentle touch to promote trust
12. Use reminders and prompts for oral hygiene care
13. Use of dementia communication techniques such as chaining, bridging, and rescuing applied to oral hygiene practices

Words By:
Dr. Anna Rani Kanagarajah
Senior Lecturer/Coordinator of Community Programmes
Family Dentistry/Preventive dentistry