Inter-professional engagement

The project was part of the Inter-Professional Engagement scheme run by the Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise, which sees dental students working with a variety of groups in the community to raise awareness of good oral health, improve access to dentistry and address oral health inequalities.

As we get older we need to be aware of how we look after our changing oral health. While some older people have dentures with the care needs associated with them, more and more people are achieving old age with all or most of their teeth in situ. As a consequence they need to care for teeth and gums which have already put in a life time of service, facing issues such as receding gums and dry mouths caused by medication.

Other issues affect dental health as we age. We may experience arthritis in our hands which makes tooth brushing difficult, or we may reach a point where physically and mentally we need to be looked after at home or in a care home.