Teledentistry study shows promise in residential aged care

A promising study of teledentistry in the residential aged care sector is expected to bring important advances in oral hygiene assessment and care for older adults with disability.

Metro North Oral Health Service Senior Dentist and University of Queensland specialist in training in special needs Dr Candy Fung said the Effect of Applying Teledentistry in Residential Aged Care Facilities study highlighted how virtual technology can be a very effective diagnostic tool for resident’s dental hygiene.

“Access to regular and effective oral health care is often limited in the aged care setting due to accessibility challenges, and the time and cost involved in facilitating appointments,” Dr Fung said.

“In many cases, elderly residents have a physical disability or reduced mobility causing the need for ambulance transport to appointments. “Some residents also experience some form of cognitive impairment which can make it very difficult to manage or facilitate regular oral health check-ups.”

As part of the Metro North Oral Health Service feasibility study, the journey of 16 residents and eight nursing staff at Gannet and Cooinda House were followed over a six-month period in late 2022.

“All residents completed a resident questionnaire, were involved in a virtual consultation, and had an in-person oral health exam a month later,” Dr Fung said. “Consultations were conducted in real time with a dentist and nurse through Microsoft Teams, and by using a mobile Mouthwatch intra-oral camera in the comfort and privacy of the resident’s room.

“Staff and residents also received real time education to identify oral health conditions that require referral to a dental practitioner.”

Dr Fung said many residents cited costs and travel being the number one barrier to accessing regular oral health care. “Teledentistry allowed us to deliver regular oral health assessments and showed that aged care nurses would also benefit from ongoing oral health care advice and guidance,” she said.

The Effect of Applying Teledentistry in Residential Aged Care Facilities study links strongly to Australia’s National Oral Health Plan 2015-24 which prioritises the need to improve and deliver effective oral health care to aged care residents.

Ethics support for the study was provided by the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and University of Queensland. Dr Fung said planning was underway to look at ways the Metro North Oral Health Service could deliver oral health care safely and effectively in residential facilities, with options being considered such as an increase in the use of teledentistry or possible mobile dentistry.