Patient-Active Prevention in Primary Dental Care: A Characterisation of General Practices in Northern Ireland
Authors: Freeman, Ruth1; Kerr, Gail; Salmon, Kathy; Speedy, Patti
Source: Primary Dental Care, Volume 12, Number 2, April 2005 , pp. 42-46(5)
Publisher: Faculty of General Dental Practice (UK)
Abstract:
Aim: To investigate the preventive orientation of general dental practices by examining their patient-active prevention activities, practice policies for prevention and employment strategies.Method: All general dental practices located within the region of the Eastern Health and Social Services Board (EHSSB) in Northern Ireland were contacted and invited to participate. A questionnaire assessed practice characteristics, patient-active prevention, practice policies and employment strategies. The principal general dental practitioner (GDP) was invited to complete the questionnaire.Results: Seventy-seven per cent of practices participated. Nearly all the practices provided patient-active prevention; however, lower proportions of dentists provided advice on diet for dental caries (3%), oral hygiene instruction, fluoride toothpaste use and interdental cleaning (7%) with each new course of dental treatment. 'Patient-active' prevention practices were 5.8 times more likely to employ a hygienist and 5.3 times more likely to have a practice policy to screen for oral cancer.Conclusions: These findings suggest that the employment of a hygienist is central to the reorientation of primary dental care. The Government must be encouraged to provide the financial means to allow primary care to shift from being disease-centred to health-focused.Document Type: Research article
DOI: 10.1308/1355761053695185
Affiliations: 1: Professor. Dental Public Health and Behavioural Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.
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