British Society

for
Disability and Oral
Health
Registered Charity No 1044867

Guidelines for the Delivery of a Domiciliary

Oral Healthcare Service

Revised by a working group on behalf of BSDH

Debbie Lewis and Janice Fiske using a previously published document by the All
Wales Special Interest Group - Special Oral Health Care
August 2009

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 Contents
Page no.
Introduction and Purpose 3

Definition of Domiciliary Oral Healthcare 4

A. The Need for Domiciliary Care 4–6

Aim 4
Need 5
Availability 6

B. Commissioning Domiciliary Oral Healthcare Services 6 – 12

Commissioning
World class commissioning 7
Mapping the baseline 8
Developing the vision 9 – 11
Making it happen 11
12
C. Establishing Domiciliary Oral Healthcare Standards 12 – 23
Objectives of domiciliary oral healthcare service 12
Access to a domiciliary oral healthcare service 13
Referrals accepted for initial assessment 14
Mix and match care 15
Requirements of the dental team 15
Preparation prior to the initial visit 16 – 17
Procedures 17 – 19
Training 19 – 20
The Mental Capacity Act (2005) 20 – 22
Disputed/unusual treatment plans 22
Equipment 23
Shared care 23

Summary 23

References 24 – 25

Appendices 26 – 39
1. Multidisciplinary team for older people 26
2. Domiciliary referral form 27
3. Eligibility criteria for domiciliary oral healthcare 28
4. Environmental risk assessment – guidance notes 29 – 30
5. Decision making process flowchart 31
6. Domiciliary care pathway 32
7. Assessment of capacity check-list 33 – 34
8. Domiciliary equipment details 35 – 37
9. Organisation of domiciliary kit into sub-kits 38 – 39
10. ROCS Project Sheffield - example of good practice 40

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Introduction

The final report of the NHS Next Stage Review ‘High Quality Care for All’ 1 sets out the
strategic direction for driving improvements in the quality of care across the health service.
High quality oral healthcare should be available to all people regardless of their age or
circumstances. People with long term and/or progressive medical conditions; mental
illness or dementia, causing disorientation and confusion in unfamiliar environments; and
increasing frailty are not always able to travel to a dental surgery. For some people,
access to oral healthcare services is achievable only through the provision of domiciliary
oral healthcare.2

The Purpose of This Document

The purpose of this document is threefold:
A. To alert PCTs and service providers to the need for maintaining and increasing the
availability of Domiciliary Oral Healthcare Services (DOHCS)
B. To provide guidance for the commissioning of high quality DOHCS
C. To provide guidance to establish standards for the delivery of high quality DOHCS

This document draws on, and should be read alongside, the following documents:

¾ The Department of Health and British Association for the Study of Community
Dentistry document ‘Delivering better oral health: An evidence-based toolkit for
prevention’ 3

¾ The Department of Health document ‘Valuing People’s Oral Health: A good

practice guide for improving the oral health of disabled children and adults 4

¾ The Department of Health commissioned ‘Strategic Review: Meeting the

Challenges of Oral Health for Older People’ 2, and

¾ The Department of Health world class commissioning document ‘Primary care and
Community Services: Improving dental access, quality and oral health’ 5.

¾ The Department of Health commissioned document ‘Commissioning tool for

Special Care Dentistry’ 6.
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Definition of Domiciliary Oral Healthcare
Domiciliary oral healthcare can be described as a service that reaches out to care for
those who cannot reach a service themselves. Domiciliary care is intended to include oral
health care and dental treatment carried out in an environment where a patient is resident
either permanently or temporarily, as opposed to that care which is delivered in dental
clinics or mobile units. It will normally include residential units and nursing homes,
hospitals, day centres and patients’ own homes. Whilst domiciliary care includes
preventive oral health care, it excludes dental screening procedures.

A. The Need for Domiciliary Care

1. Aim of Domiciliary Oral Healthcare
The aim is to deliver appropriate oral healthcare (in accordance with the requirements
of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), 1995 7, the General Dental Council (GDC)
1999 8, the Mental Capacity Act, 2005 9 and the NHS Constitution10, to patients whose
circumstances make it impossible, unreasonable, or otherwise impracticable for them
to receive that care in a fixed clinic, a hospital site or from a mobile dental clinic 11.
Domiciliary care may be provided via the general dental service (GDS), salaried
primary dental care service (SPDCS) or hospital dental service (HDS).

The DDA (1995) 7 states that service providers must be fair and flexible in taking
action to remove any barriers that exclude disabled people. The Act requires that,
where a person is unable to access a service because of disability, the service
provider makes it available via reasonable alternative means. In the case of a person
being unable to access dental services provided in a conventional dental surgery
setting, a reasonable alternative means of access to dental care would be for the
dental practitioner to provide domiciliary care. However, it must be cautioned that
domiciliary dental care provision is not a panacea and the GDC (1999) recommends
that dental treatment provided on a domiciliary basis should be appropriate within that
setting, taking into account the nature of the dental problem, the facilities available and
the welfare of the patient 8. Surgery-based care remains the best option for irreversible
treatment procedures, but where this is not reasonable or possible patients should not
be unduly disadvantaged by having to receive domiciliary oral healthcare. Ideally, they
should have equitable oral health outcomes in terms of self esteem, appearance,

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 social interaction, function and comfort. This requires careful assessment and
treatment planning which takes account of all associated factors, including the skills
required to manage delivery of care in a sometimes compromised situation 6. The
ability of carers to facilitate delivery of the preventive aspect of the oral healthcare plan
must also be taken account of.

2. The Need
As more people retain their natural teeth into old age, this presents challenges to the
dental profession in providing care to medically compromised, multiply disabled and
older people who may require a wide range of interventions in a heavily restored
dentition, at a time in their lives when they are less able to cope with treatment. It is
projected that the number of people with NO natural teeth will decline from 40-45 % of
people over 65 years in 2005 to only 20% (1 in 5 people) in 2025. It is also expected
that 40-50% of over 65 year olds will be dentate with 21 or more natural teeth ( a
functional dentition) by 2025 2. Additionally, as dentate older people become disabled
they are more likely to use dental services more regularly than edentate older people.
Therefore, the demand for care will increase for DOHC, as will the requirement for the
skills and equipment to provide a more comprehensive service than the provision of
dentures.

Functionally dependent older adults are often best served by bringing dental services
to them12. People over the age of 90 have shown a preference for home visits, as it
enables them to use their limited energy in receiving care rather than travelling for
care13. Younger people with disabilities and/or additional needs may also be confined
to home and, if so, will also require domiciliary oral healthcare.

There is evidence that people in residential care (such as those, people with a
learning disability or mental health problem , people who are physically or medically
compromised older people 14 and people in secure units 15 are more likely to have
poor oral health and inadequate or restricted access to dental services 14. Whilst
people confined to home perceive a high dental care need, difficulties in getting to a
dentist, paying for dental care, and poor oral health have been cited as barriers to
obtaining dental care by American researchers 16,17.

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 A recent study demonstrated that a domiciliary denture service improved oral health
related quality of life of older people confined to home 18. Despite the increase in older
people keeping more teeth for longer, currently investment in DOHCS would help to
meet the oral healthcare needs of around 50% of all people aged 85 years and over
until 2018 2.

The document ‘Meeting the Challenges of Oral Health for Older People: A Strategic
Review’ concluded that there is a need for Primary Care Trusts to invest in domiciliary
denture care services 2.

3. Availability
Domiciliary care should not be considered as the last resort. It should be offered
amongst the routine options for dental care for people who are mostly confined to
home or for whom leaving or travelling from home can cause unwarranted upheaval
and distress. However, access to, and availability of dental domiciliary services for
disabled older people is relatively low.

Analysis of health service records reveals that less than 40% of dentists in general
dental practice provide home visits and this figure is falling 19. Some of these dentists
restrict their domiciliary practice to prosthodontics, and a proportion of these restrict it
further to complete dentures only. A study of availability of domiciliary dentistry
indicated that only 21% of dentists who were willing to do domiciliary work would
undertake restorative treatment 19. The salaried primary care dental service (SPCDS)
acts as a safety-net for people who are unable to obtain care within the general dental
services. Even so, only a minority of community dentists provide domiciliary care.

B. Commissioning Domiciliary Oral Healthcare Services

Domiciliary services are necessary to provide professional advice and treatment to
residents of nursing and care homes as well as to the increasing numbers of frail
people living at home or in sheltered housing 20. PCTs will need to commission
comprehensive and appropriate oral healthcare services for older people that include
domiciliary services and specialist care, as identified by their local needs assessment2.

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1. Commissioning
Commissioning domiciliary oral healthcare services should be set in the context and
current agenda of equality, diversity and human rights in both health and social care
and reducing healthcare inequalities through personalisation, consultation and
partnership working. Thus, it is fitting that ‘Our Vision for Primary and Community
Care’ 21 draws together the main conclusions of ‘The Next Stage Review’ for
community-based NHS services, including primary dental care and sets out an agenda
based on the following four key areas:
¾ Shaping services around people’s needs and views
¾ Promoting healthy lives and tackling health inequalities
¾ Continuing improving quality
¾ Ensuring change is led locally

From April 2006, Government conferred a statutory responsibility on Primary Care

Trusts (PCTs) for commissioning services, devolved commissioning budgets and
introduced a system of local contracts with dental providers 5. Out of these reforms
grew commissioning for ‘additional and specialist services 5’, including domiciliary
services.

The 2009 -10 Operating Framework22 clarifies the priority for PCTs to develop NHS
dental services to meet the local needs for access, quality of care and oral health in
order to provide services to anyone who seeks help in accessing them. The key
elements for a successful dental commissioning strategy that will enable this to be
delivered include:
¾ Assessing local needs
¾ Mapping current services
¾ Developing a strategic commissioning plan
¾ Delivering improvements through:
⎯ transparent use of performance information
⎯ supporting quality improvement
⎯ information for patients and public
⎯ assuring minimum standards
⎯ promoting patient choice
⎯ developing the market, and

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 ⎯ commissioning new and or additional capacity
¾ Improving premises and estates, including domiciliary equipment
¾ Top-level (eg Board) ownership, and
¾ A systematic approach to monitoring for performances. 5

2. World class commissioning 5

Effective commissioning, which is essential to improving the quality of primary care
services, has led to the development of the World class commissioning (WCC)
programme. WCC requires all PCTs to developing their five year strategic plan, which
sets out the PCT vision, its priorities and how these will be delivered. It includes the
high level ‘patient offer’, which sets out what the PCT is accountable for delivering to
its local community.

Strategic plans will explain:

¾ What services will be provided
¾ Where they will be available, and
¾ Who will provide them.

PCTs are also required to prepare an annual operating plan, setting out how it will
implement its strategy in the coming year. Both the strategic and operating plans
should address how the PCT will improve its primary care services and, where there is
a need, this should include domiciliary oral healthcare services.

The annual cycle of this WCC assurance process holds PCTs to account. At the same
time, PCTs need to be able to provide clear assurance that the services being
accessed provide safe and effective care and good patient experience, in line with the
objectives of High Quality Care for All.1 The distinctive features of commissioning
primary dental care are set out in ‘Primary care and Community Services: Improving
dental access, quality and oral health ’5.

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3. Mapping the baseline
In order to make improvements to primary care services, including domiciliary oral
healthcare, a baseline needs to be established. There are three key stages to mapping
the baseline:
1. Assessing needs
2. Mapping existing services, and
3. Identifying what needs to change.

These key areas allow for identification of:

1. Service gaps
2. Potential for redesigning services, and
3. Level of resources required.

Stage 1 Assessing local needs – this is usually done through a Joint strategic Needs
Assessment (JSNA) which entails having a clear understanding of the diversity of the
local population (including associated patterns of oral health and service demand);
specific communities with unmet or comparatively greater health needs (such as older
people in residential care or confined to home); and how these needs compare with
similar populations elsewhere, through benchmarking 5. Obtaining patient feedback
and assessing levels of patient satisfaction are essential to the commissioning
process.

Assessing oral health needs and assessing demand for dental services are also
essential elements of the process. ‘Valuing People’s Oral Health – best practice
guidance for improving oral health in disabled children and adults’ 4 contains useful
information on needs assessment. Assessing demand for dental services is not
straightforward. The current access indicator, of the number of people using services
within a two year period, is not an accurate proxy for levels of unmet need or demand.
It is suggested that the simplest way of gauging unmet demand is to set up a well-
publicised dental access helpline for both people seeking urgent care and those
seeking a regular NHS dentist, monitor the nature of the requested needs and the
ability to offer services to meet them 5.

It is recognised that this approach needs to be sensitive to the needs of easily

overlooked groups, such as older people who may need domiciliary care and people
9
with disabilities 5. Effective marketing and community engagement are required to
promote awareness of how to access services amongst these groups and their
families and carers. For example for older people confined to the home, this may
include targeting local social services home-meals and shopping services, and
facilities such as day centres and care homes.

Stage 2 Mapping exiting services – this refers to gaining a clear understanding of

how services are currently provided, their quality, and any gaps that need to be
addressed. To achieve this, it requires drawing a number of strands of data together,
including:
¾ Capacity, range and type of current services
¾ Effectiveness and safety
¾ Patient experience, and
¾ Access and choice 5
The last point should include an estimate of the number of people unlikely to be able to
leave home to attend a dental practice and the current commissioned domiciliary oral
healthcare service capacity.

Stage 3 Identifying what needs to change – a comparison of the needs assessment

with existing service provision will highlight what needs to change. This will differ for
every PCT, however common themes will include:
¾ Levelling access and improving choice for the segments of the population
who cannot access or have difficulty accessing services
¾ Addressing areas of poor health
¾ Developing specialist services, and
¾ A stronger focus on commissioning preventive services 5

Dental services for people who require domiciliary care and for people with disabilities
will need to be considered in each of the above parameters. In order to identify
required service need accurately, an assessment of complexity of treatment is
essential so that the appropriate workforce can be commissioned in a co-ordinated
way. For example how much of the need can be met by the primary care dental team
(including hygienists), how much requires a dentist with a special interest and how
much requires specialist input. The DOH publication, National guidelines for the
appointment of dentists with a special interest (DwSI) in special care dentistry23
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 provides guidance to PCT’s on the appointment of dentists with a special interest in
special care dentistry including the competency framework for the scope of treatment
that can be undertaken.

Specialist oral healthcare provision for older people with disability, dementia or
complex medical conditions falls within the remit of Special Care Dentistry. Quality
assurance criteria for a specialist in Special Care Dentistry are set out in ‘The
Commissioning Tool for special Care Dentistry’ 6. They are set out alongside those of
a generalist dental practitioner and the dentist with a specialist interest in Special Care
Dentistry in order to facilitate PCTs ability to identify what level of care is required to
meet the identified need in their area.

4. Developing the vision

Commissioners should develop a clear picture for future dental services that is
informed by their five year strategic plan 5 . It should include:
¾ A clear ‘patient offer’, explaining what people can expect from NHS dental
services and what their responsibilities as patients are
¾ A clear strategic commissioning plan to deliver the patient offer, taking
account of current unmet need, predicted changes in the pattern of services
needed (such as for older people with physical or learning disabilities), the
range and type of services, the interface between primary and secondary
care, and the capital and revenue elements associated with improving the
infrastructure, including physical access, equipment (including domiciliary
equipment) and IT.

All this needs to be done with the backdrop of the NHS 2009 constitution 10 in mind,
and in particular that:
¾ The NHS provides a comprehensive service, available to all - irrespective
of gender, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief. It has a
duty to each and every individual that it serves and must respect their human
rights. At the same time, it has a wider social duty to promote equality
through the services it provides and to pay particular attention to groups or
sections of society where improvements in health and life expectancy are not
keeping pace with the rest of the population. And

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 ¾ Patients have the right to expect their local NHS to assess the health
requirements of the local community and to commission and put in place the
services to meet those needs as considered necessary.

5. Making it happen
‘Primary care and Community Services: Improving dental access, quality and oral
health’ sets out commissioning levers under nine broad headings, which if used
intelligently can deliver rapid improvement and the reader is referred to that document
for further information on each of them 5. It also provides a useful list of the relevant
regulations from which the legislative framework related to PCTs powers to manage
contracts is drawn.

This view of WCC fits well with the four aims of the commissioning strategy set out in
‘The Commissioning Tool for Special Care Dentistry’ 6 which are:
1. A patient centred service, which aims to provide and maintain the optimum oral
health for the individual or group
2. Integrated front line delivery which is organised around the needs of the
vulnerable adult rather than professional boundaries
3. Integrated processes which lead to effective joint working
4. Joint planning and commissioning

Use of these two guidance documents 5, 6 in combination will lead to the provision of a
robust strategy and operational plan to meet the needs of people requiring domiciliary
oral healthcare services.

C. Establishing Domiciliary Oral Healthcare Standards

In order to deliver the domiciliary dental care operational plan, it is necessary to set out
the objectives of the service, how it is accessed and how it is delivered. This section
provides guidance that covers these domains.

1. Objectives of Domiciliary Oral Healthcare Service

The objectives of a domiciliary oral healthcare service are primarily to:

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 • Establish a system which will identify individuals in the community who have an oral
healthcare need and for whom domiciliary provision is the only reasonable option.
• Provide an oral healthcare service to address patients’ needs, taking into account
their personal circumstances and their wishes, consistent with the most appropriate
use of resources.
• Deliver high quality oral healthcare in a person- centred way that respects the
dignity of the individual receiving it.

2. Access to a Domiciliary Oral Healthcare Service

a. Liaison with health and social service professionals, carers and the voluntary sector
will enable clients who require a domiciliary service to access care. PCTs need to
ensure that appropriate referral pathways are put in place so that oral healthcare
and/or dental treatment become part of any healthcare plan and any healthcare
measures for older people who are confined to home 2. Older people can be
referred to the DOHCS by any member of their multi-disciplinary team (see
Appendix 1).

b. Routine referrals should be made on the appropriate domiciliary referral form,

which will facilitate assessment of the individual’s suitability for domiciliary care (see
Appendix 2). Referrals should include essential information, such as the nature of
disability, social/family situation, carer information, communication issues, medical
information and the oral problem.

c. Urgent referrals can be difficult to fit into an already scheduled working day and
both eligibility for a visit and the degree of urgency will need to be assessed (see
Appendix 3). There may be a case for agreeing some objective criteria for inclusion
on a referral form which would allow for an appraisal to be made by a clinician at the
stage of allocating priority for follow-up (see Appendix 2).

d. Care homes should have access to information on local dental services including
advice on referrals and information on domiciliary care 14.

e. New patients should all have a domiciliary visit risk assessment carried out (see
Appendix 4) and the decision on whether to carry out dental treatment through a
DOHC service reached following a risk-benefit analysis. Provision of dental care as
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 a domiciliary procedure is an expensive aspect of service provision. In addition to
time spent seeing the patient, there is often considerable time spent in travelling to
and from the clinic base, and in preparing (and clearing up afterwards), a suitable
working area in the patient’s home environment. Furthermore, there are also travel
costs to consider, which can be significant in rural areas owing to the sometimes
long distances involved. In any consideration of the costs of providing domiciliary
care versus surgery-based care, it is necessary to bear in mind that there are
‘hidden’ costs in bringing patients to the surgery and these may include the cost of
providing an escort and specialist or ambulance transport, which, whilst they do not
necessarily impact on the SPCDS budget, nonetheless, represent a cost to the
public purse. Appendix 5 provides an example of good practice from Oldham PCT
CDS, to help with decision-making regarding the appropriate provision of DOHC.

3. Referrals Accepted for Initial Assessment

The receipt of the referral should be acknowledged, and, where possible, an indication
given of the likely time from receipt of referral to assessment. If the initial assessment
indicates that a domiciliary visit is needed, the patient should be placed on the local
waiting list for dental examination. Ideally, the dentist should also be able to give the
patient some indication of how long they will need to wait for a first visit.

If the patient could be reasonably expected to travel to a dentist, then by definition,

they would not require domiciliary care. A separate judgement would then be made as
to whether they would qualify for SPCDS by virtue of a special dental or medical
need11. Appendix 6 sets out a care pathway for domiciliary oral healthcare. For
patients who qualify for SPCDS care but not domiciliary care, the patient’s name
should be placed on the local waiting list for examination at the clinic, and the patient
should be given some indication of how long they are likely to have to wait.

Occasionally, patients referred for DOHCS do not qualify either for domiciliary or
SPCDS care. In these cases, it will be necessary to ensure that the referrer is made
aware that the request is not appropriate and has not been accepted. Responsibility
for arranging dental care remains with the referrer, who should be given guidance on
the most appropriate route locally.

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4. Mix and Match care
Mix and match care is the term used to describe when domiciliary and surgery-based
care are mixed and matched according to the need to develop rapport and trust
between the patient and the dental team, or according to the complexity of the dental
procedures that need to be undertaken. For example, profoundly anxious patients may
feel able to attend the surgery once rapport built with the dental team, through a
domiciliary visit, has helped to reduce their fear; or a disabled patient taking
anticoagulants attends the surgery for extraction of a tooth because of the risk of
postoperative bleeding, whilst dentures can be safely constructed on a domiciliary
basis.

5. Requirements of the Dental Team

The domiciliary dental team may vary depending on the individual needs of the patient.
Initially it will require at least the dentist and the dental nurse. However, at times it may
include a dental hygienist or therapist. Where the needs of the individual are
predominantly related to oral hygiene needs and prevention of dental disease, the
dental team may comprise of a dental hygienist and dental nurse. Whoever is in the
team, domiciliary oral healthcare requires the dental team to transfer their professional
standards and skills to a non-clinical environment. This requires a specific set of skills,
amongst which teamwork and flexibility are essential. The acronym ‘CAMPING’ can
be used as an aide memoire for the other key skills required to deliver an effective
DOHC service. CAMPING stands for:
C communication
A assertiveness and anticipation
M manual handling and map reading
P planning and time management
I improvisation
N networking and liaison (see Appendix 1)
G gerodontology - knowledge of and experience in the field, including
a knowledge of medical conditions, associated problems and
management of medical emergencies

It has been suggested that a great deal of the procedure and process of domiciliary
visiting is similar to camping. Time is spent preparing and packing equipment and kit
15
 required. This is then taken to the visit and time is spent unpacking and setting up for
the necessary treatment. Afterwards, everything needs to be dismantled ready to pack
away again.

The dentist can become a central figure in the social network of a person confined to
home, and the established rapport can lead to the individual feeling supported by the
healthcare provider which can have a positive impact on the immediate and long-term
well being of the patient 24.

6. Preparation Prior to the Initial Visit

Careful preparation prior to the visit will help ensure that all the necessary information
is available. Time invested in planning the visit will be paid back through its
contribution to the success of the visit.

a. For emergency visits, telephone ahead to clarify the dental problem and the need
for a visit.

b. For non-emergency visits the following ‘Telephone Tick List’ is helpful. The
acronym ‘CAMPING’ can again be used as an aide memoire:
C check full address and helpful directions
A appointment to be sent in writing if possible
M medical history and consent - note need to liaise with relevant people
P parking facilities
I information about who will be present, eg carer, relative, neighbour
N name of dentist visiting, provided for security
G gain access to any special instructions or requirements, eg need to
collect key from neighbour, dog barks but does not bite, etc...

c. Contacting the client

If telephone contact is not possible, write to the patient or carer to negotiate a
mutually convenient date and venue. Where necessary ask for maps or directions.
Follow up by sending written confirmation prior to the visit which gives clear
instructions on how you can be contacted if last minute changes are required.

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 d. Health and safety Issues
An important part of organising a DOHC service is to consider the following health
and safety issues:
¾ Risk assessment (see Appendix 4)
¾ Staff protection
¾ Chaperoning
¾ Employer’s liability
¾ Personal protection
¾ Manual handling skills.
¾ Insurance for vehicles and equipment

7. Procedures
a. The initial visit
The following procedures help the initial visit to go well:
¾ Telephone the patient at the beginning of the day to confirm the timetable
¾ Try to be punctual. If a delay is anticipated, then a telephone call to
apologise, explain and reassure will usually be appreciated. Carers may
have made special arrangements to be available for a particular time
¾ Every member of the dental team should carry official identification, and
all staff should be introduced on arrival by name and status
¾ Establish at the outset the relationship of any carer(s) to the patient
¾ The clinician (dentist, therapist or hygienist) must be chaperoned at every
visit by another member of the team in the interests of personal and
patient safety
¾ Confirm the patient’s personal details
¾ Consult with the carer regarding the patient’s capacity to give a reliable
history and valid consent; and check who, if anyone, is the patient’s
Court Appointed Deputy
¾ Check the reason for, and source of the internal referral as an update on
past medical history /past dental history is often necessary. Importantly,
before doing so, establish that confidentiality is not being compromised
by the presence of a person such as a home help or support worker
when this is done.

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b. Adhesive dentistry
With the advent of adhesive dentistry, the restorative options available to the
increasing numbers of people who are dentate receiving domiciliary care have
improved. Consideration should be given to the use of the Atraumatic Restorative
Techniques (ART) and Carisolv 25.

c. Infection control
Within the domiciliary environment, infection control procedures, including the
establishment of a clean work area should be maintained as far as is reasonably
practicable and in accordance with professional and local Trust guidance. All clinical
waste including sharps must be disposed of according to local rules. The
procedures detailed in local SPCDS policies for control of infection will apply to
domiciliary procedures in the same way as for clinic-based procedures.

d. Treatment planning and subsequent visits

After examination, the provisional treatment plan should be discussed with the
patient and/or carer, as appropriate. At this stage, the need for further
investigations, liability for any charges, and the anticipated treatment timetable
should be discussed and a record made in the patient’s notes. Acute conditions
including pain may need intervention at this first visit, subject to consent or
procedure in lieu of consent. At the end of the visit, the next action should be
agreed with the patient / carer (see Appendix 6).

In planning future treatment it is important to consider what treatment is required

and what, if any, of it is appropriate in a domiciliary situation. This is the time to plan
and make provision for any ‘mix and match’ requirements.

e. Confidentiality
All patients have the right to expect that information they give to health workers will
be treated in confidence and used only in the context of their healthcare provision.
Care must be taken that where other people are present (such as, relatives or
significant others) no breach of patient confidentiality is allowed to occur either in
the collection or imparting of information, unless the patient has given consent for
disclosure.

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 f. Consent
The law in relation to consent clearly places the duty on the practitioner who
proposes to carry out treatment to ensure that a valid consent is obtained. This is no
less the case with domiciliary oral healthcare provision. Consent must be informed
and where a client is considered not to have the capacity to consent, the procedure
set out in the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 9 or Adults with Incapacity Act,
Scotland 26must be followed. For more information see the section on the MCA on
pages 20 - 22 and Appendix 7.

8. Training
Providing effective domiciliary oral healthcare requires skills that extend well beyond
clinical dentistry 2. Training in the understanding, planning and delivery of all aspects
of domiciliary services should be provided to all members of the dental team who are
likely to be involved. This should be planned and organised according to local
requirements and based on relevant professional guidance.

Understanding of, and proficiency in, risk management needs to be an integral part of
any such training. In the GDC’s guidance ‘Maintaining Standards’ attention is drawn to
the possibility that a medical emergency could occur at any time in premises where
dental treatment takes place. The nature of the patients being treated in a domiciliary
setting means that there is likely to be a greater chance of encountering a medical
emergency. It is, therefore, imperative that the dentist ensures that all members of the
dental team are properly trained, have available the necessary resources and are
prepared to deal with an emergency including a collapsed patient. Training should
include preparing for medical emergencies, including the use of emergency drugs, and
practice of resuscitation routines in a simulated emergency.

It is essential that all premises where dental treatment takes place, including
domiciliary settings, have available and in working order:
¾ Portable suction apparatus to clear the oro-pharynx
¾ Oral airways to maintain the natural airway
¾ Equipment with appropriate attachments to provide intermittent positive
pressure ventilation of the lungs
¾ A portable source of oxygen, and
¾ Emergency drugs 8
19
 In order to comply with this guidance, the domiciliary dental team will need to take this
equipment with them. The carriage of oxygen requires that the car owner informs their
insurance company, secures the oxygen in the car to stop it rolling around and carries
an oxygen safety data sheet and TREM (Transport Emergency) card. A mobile phone
is also necessary to ensure that emergency services can be phoned, if required.

Undergraduate training must include experience in domiciliary oral healthcare and

care homes if graduates are to have any understanding of what domiciliary care
provision involves.

Local policies and procedures will apply to many of the above considerations. Staff
providing domiciliary care should be aware of, trained in, and operate in compliance
with the local rules of their employing authority.

The portable domiciliary kit should always be complete and ready to go. This requires
a designated member of the dental team to have responsibility for keeping it this way
(see the section on Equipment on page 16).

9. The Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA 2005)

This Act came into force in 2007 and the law applies to everyone involved in care,
treatment or support of people aged 16 years or over in England and Wales who lack
capacity to make all or some decisions for themselves.9 In Scotland, the needs of
adults with incapacity are met through the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000
26,27
.

The MCA clarifies the terms ‘mental capacity’ and ‘lack of mental capacity’. There
is an assumption that people have the capacity to make decisions for themselves
unless proved otherwise. An assessment regarding capacity may be supported by the
use of a tick box check list within the patient’s dental records (see Appendix 7).

The new law states that a person is unable to make a particular decision if they cannot
do one or more of the following:
¾ Understand information given to them
¾ Retain that information long enough to be able to make the decision
20
 ¾ Weigh up the information available to make the decision
¾ Communicate their decision - this could be done by talking, using sign
language or even simple muscle movements such as blinking an eye or
squeezing a hand.

Healthcare workers are able to diagnose conditions and carry out treatment for
patients who do not have capacity as long as they have complied with the MCA, and
are acting in the individual’s ‘best interests’. The MCA indicates that the individual’s
past values, attitudes and behaviour should be taken into account when providing a
healthcare service for people who do not have the capacity to consent (see Advance
Decisions in the MCA 2005). For example, where an individual has attended the
dentist regularly throughout their life, and they have retained their natural teeth into old
age and/or there is evidence of advanced restorative treatment, the implication is that
they value their teeth. Were they to have the capacity to consent it is likely that they
would choose restoration of a tooth rather than extraction. Thus a treatment plan
including prevention and restorative care is likely to reflect their values, attitudes and
past dental history.

A new criminal offence of ‘ill- treatment’ or ‘wilful neglect’ of people who lack capacity
came into force in April 2007. Within the law, ”helping with personal hygiene” (which
includes toothbrushing) will attract protection from liability as long as the individual has
complied with the MCA by assessing a person’s capacity and acted in their best
interests. The following check list may be used to determine what is in the ‘best
interests’ of a person lacking capacity:
¾ Involve the person who lacks capacity
¾ Consult with others involved with the care of the person
¾ Do not make assumptions based solely on a person’s age, appearance,
condition or behaviour
¾ Be aware of the persons past and present wishes and feelings
¾ Give consideration to whether the person is likely to regain capacity to
make the decision in the future.
¾ The individual must be supported to make a decision as far as possible
even if it is what others may feel is an unwise decision.
¾ The decision should always be recorded in writing.

21
 Appendix 7 provides a check list that can be used to document the process followed to
assess capacity.

The Mental Capacity Act takes account of the role of ‘Advance Directives’. These
include:
1. Advance decisions - people 18 years of age and over can make advance
decisions, while still capable, to refuse ‘specified medical treatment’ for a time in the
future when they might lack the capacity to consent or refuse
2. Lasting power of attorney (LPA) - LPA allows adults aged 18 and over, who have
capacity, to appoint attorneys to make decisions about their personal welfare,
including healthcare and medical treatment decisions, and their property and affairs.
This is something that people may well do in the early stages of dementia when
they can still make decisions. It is likely that their LPA will be a family member
3. Court Appointed Deputy (CAD) - this is someone who can act for and make
decisions on behalf of an individual whose condition makes it likely that they will
lack capacity to make decisions in the future. The CAD must follow the Act’s
statutory principles, act in the person’s best interests, and only make decisions
authorised by the Court. CADs are more likely to be used for people with learning
disability. Again, it is likely that family members will be appointed.

10. Disputed or unusual treatment plans

In cases where there is any disagreement over proposed treatments, the principle of
‘wide consultation’ should be adopted. Where proposed treatments are disputed, could
be considered unusual, or would for special reasons fall outside that which may be
considered to be within the recognised body of professional opinion, further advice
must be sought from senior colleagues, or peers, before proceeding except where
over-riding necessity indicates otherwise.

11. Equipment
There is an increasing selection of domiciliary equipment available. What you need
should be assessed on the basis of:
¾ Frequency of use
¾ Types of treatment likely to be carried out
¾ Facilities already available
¾ Ease of adequate decontamination
22
 ¾ Weight of equipment and ease of transporting it
¾ Any other relevant features associated with the service you provide, and
¾ Cost

Appendix 8 lists some items of equipment with approximate prices, current at the time
of publication of these guidelines.

Organisation of the domiciliary kit into sub-kits is a useful way of ensuring everything
required is in place, ensuring that the kit is kept clean and ready for use, and of taking
only those sub-kits necessary into the patient’s home. Appendix 9 outlines the way a
domiciliary kit might be organised into sub-kits.

12. Shared Care

An example of shared care between the Salaried Primary Care Dental Service in
Sheffield and selected General Dental Practitioners who provide a domiciliary oral
healthcare service to people in care homes is cited as an example of good practice in
Appendix 10.

Summary

These guidelines are intended to provide advice and support for all those involved with the
commissioning and provision of DOHCS.

There is an increasing need to deliver oral healthcare to patients with complex additional
needs. As well as contributing to deteriorating oral health, physical and mental impairment
may present problems as regards the delivery of, and access to, oral healthcare. The
availability of DOHCS will need to be maintained and improved to meet the needs of this
growing population. This requires adequate training and more opportunities to gain
experience to develop the necessary knowledge and skills as well as appropriate
remuneration to reflect the additional time and skills required for DOHC. At the same time
it is important, that domiciliary oral healthcare provision is targeted through world class
local commissioning of appropriate services.

23
References
1. Lord Darzi. ‘High Quality Care for All: NHS Next Stage Review’, 2008.
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistcs/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndG
uidance/DH_085825

2. Meeting the Challenges of Oral Health for Older People: A Strategic Review.
Commissioned by DOH. Gerodontology 2005; 22: Supplement 1.

3. Department of Health and British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry
‘Delivering better oral health: An evidence-based toolkit for prevention’, 2007.
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistcs/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndG
uidance/DH_078742

4. Department of Health. Valuing People’s Oral Health: A good practice guide for
improving the oral health of disabled children and adults. 2007:
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidan
ce/DH_080918

5. The Department of Health world class commissioning document ‘Primary care and
Community Services: Improving dental access, quality and oral health’,
2009.http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistcs/Publications/PublicationsPolicy
AndGuid ance/DH_093831

6. British Society for Disability and Oral Health. Commissioning tool for Special Care
Dentistry. 2006.http://www.bsdh.org.uk/guidelines.html

7. Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1995/ukpga_19950050_en_1

8. ‘Maintaining Standards’. General Dental Council 1999. http://www.gdc-

uk.org/NR/rdonlyres/F7730541EC8440019F575A0ABD246CFD/15200/MaintainingSta
ndards.pdf

9. Mental Capacity Act. Department of Health. 2005

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/SocialCare/Deliveringadultsocialcare/MentalCapacity/MentalC
apacityAct2005/DH_073511

10. The NHS Constitution: securing the NHS today for generations to come, 2009.
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndG
uidance/DH_093419

11. All Wales Special Interest Group. Special Oral Health Care Guidelines for the Delivery
of a Domiciliary Oral Health Care Service. J Disabil Oral Health 2006; 7:166-172

12. Helgeson MJ, Smith BJ, Johnsen M, Ebert C.Dental Considerations for Frail Elderly.
Spec Care Dentist. 2002; 22(3):40S-55S

13. Lester V, Ashley F P, Gibbons D E. Reported dental attendance and perceived barriers
to care in frail and functionally dependent older adults. Br Dent J 1998:184: 285-289.

24
14. Fiske J, Griffiths J, Jamieson R, et al. BSDH Guidelines for oral healthcare for long-
stay patients and residents. http://www.bsdh.org.uk/guidelines.html

15. Heidari E, Dickinson C, Wilson R, Fiske J.Oral health of remand prisoners in HMP
Brixton, London.Br Dent J. 2007; 202(2):E1.

16. Steifel DJ, Lubin JH, Truelove EL. A survey of perceived oral health needs of
homebound patients. J Public Health Dent 1979;39:7-15.

17. Strayer MS. Perceived barriers to oral health care among the homebound. Spec Care
Dentist 1995;15:113-18.

18. Pearson NK, Gibson BJ, Davis DM, Gelbier S and Robinson PG. The effect of a
domiciliary denture service on oral health related quality of life: a randomised controlled
trial. Br Dent J 2007;203:E3.

19. Longhurst RH. Availability of domiciliary dental care for the elderly. Prim Dent Care
2002; 9:147-50.

20. Oral Healthcare for Older People - 2020 Vision – A BDA Key Issue Policy Paper. BDA,
London May 2003.

21. Department of Health ‘NHS Next Stage Review: Our vision for primary and community
care’,2008.http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistcs/Publications/PublicationsP
olicyAndGuidance/DH 093831

22. Department of Health. ‘The NHS in England: The operating framework for 2009/10’,
2008.http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicy
AndGuidance/DH_091445

23. Department of Health . National Guidelines for the appointment of dentists with a
special interest in Special Care Dentistry..
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndG
uidance/DH_096466

24. Moore PE, The portable alternative. Selecting the right equipment for the non-
traditional practice setting. Spec Care Dentist 1989; 9:152-54.

25. Fiske J, Dickinson C, Boyle C, Rafique S, Burke M. Special Care Dentistry. Chapter 11
–21. Patient management through non-invasive treatment. Quintessentials of Dental
Practice – 42. London: Quintessence Publishing Co. Ltd. 2007.

26. Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000

www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/mels/CEL2008_11.pdf

27. Griffith R. Making decisions for incapable adults: the Scottish law. Br J Community
Nurs. 2006 Jul;11(7):308-3.

25
 Appendix 1 Multidisciplinary Team for Older People

Day
Community General
Voluntary Centre
Nursing Medical
Organisation
Team Practitioner
Dietician
Health Facilitator Hospice
Care Team
Dental Team Patient Social
Speech and Service Pharmacist
Language
Therapist Carer/Family/Friends
Physiotherapist
Hospital
Specialist Occupational
Residential Therapist
Home
MacMillan Team

Adapted from Clinical guidelines and integrated care pathways for the oral healthcare of people with learning
disabilities BSDH RCS 2001

26
Appendix 2 Domiciliary Referral Form
DOMICILIARY REFERRAL FORM
Date___________________________

Referred by (Name, address and status) ___________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________ Tel No._______________________________________

Patient’s name____________________________________ D.O.B._____________________________

Patient’s address _____________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________ Post code___________________________

Tel. No.______________________

Name of contact person eg relative, key worker, social worker, etc

____________________________________________________________________________________
Address_____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________ Tel. No._______________________________________
Reason for referral// Treatment need

Urgent  Non-urgent

Does the person go out at all? Yes  No 

If Yes, could they travel to a dental surgery with transport? Yes  No 

Medical/ Mental/ Social History_________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________

Mobility problems____________________________________________________________________

Physical Disability___________________________________________________________________

Mental Disability_____________________________________________________________________

Sensory Disability____________________________________________________________________

Communication difficulties_____________________________________________________________
Any other relevant
information__________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

27
Appendix 3 Eligibility Criteria for Domiciliary Oral Healthcare

Has patient / carer contacted a local dentist?

Yes No Don’t know

Does the patient attend her/his Doctor?

Yes No Don’t know

If the patient has a hospital appointment, how does he/she get there?
Ambulance Taxi Car Other

When was the last time the patient was able to leave the house?

______________________________________________________________

Does the patient have someone to bring them to the surgery?

Yes No Don’t know

Does the patient use a taxi for other activities?

Yes No Don’t know

Does the patient attend a hairdresser / chiropodist?

Yes No Don’t know

Mobility
Walks unaided Needs assistance Wheelchair user Confined to home

Additional Comments:
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________

Source: Lothian PCDS 2003

28
 Appendix 4 Guidance notes for an Environmental Risk Assessment for
DOHC

DOMICILIARY VISIT RISK ASSESSMENT

Patient name Mr/Mrs/Miss_________________________

Address ___________________________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________________________
Tel no ___________________________________
Number of persons living in premises
Can the patient understand and
communicate at an acceptable level?

Does the medical history indicate any

potential problems?

Are there any special risks arising from the

treatment planned?

Is there an appropriate level of social

support and after care if treatment is to be
provided at home?

Others present e.g. carer, relative, support

worker etc

Examples of hazards
External access Difficulty in reaching premises due to location
eg access gained via back streets or alleyways
items stored on entrance steps or corridors
steep stairs, poorly laid paths
lift frequently out of action
External lighting Unsafe parking due to lack of / or inadequate street lighting
Dimly lit stair wells

Internal access Steep steps, items stored in corridors

Internal lighting Poorly lit households, Insufficient light to carry out procedure

Obvious fire hazards Smokers at the location

Children with access to cigarettes, lighters, matches
Use of chip pans, electric blankets, portable gas heaters

Slips, trips and falls Any items that have Slippery kitchen / bathroom floors
a potential to cause slips, trips or falls Flooring stained with bodily matter (environmental hazard)
Broken furniture
Lack of space due to furniture / other clutter

Electrical safety Frayed cable, damaged plugs etc

29
Other hazards e.g. animals Pets within treatment area

Manual handling assessment Complete according to trust Policy/ local rules

Furniture Low seating causing manual handling problems

Space availability Sufficient space to enable treatment of the patient in an

appropriate
manner with privacy and dignity
eg exclude smokers from treatment area and any other person
not required for support with agreement of patient
Additional Comments Any further information that is relative to the risk assessment in
question. It is important that this information is as accurate as
possible. Although assessments can be subjective, hearsay
should not be used as a basis for assumption

Is the physical environment safe for the

procedures intended?
Assessment Outcome This is an overall measure of the assessment itself. The
assessor is required to categorise the assessment by ticking a
single box
Green flag Assessment did not highlight any significant problems

Amber flag Assessment includes additional comments which must be read

by any individual visiting premises or patient

Red flag Anyone visiting premises must contact assessor or case

manager to discuss hazards before visiting premises or patient

Name of person completing assessment_________________________________

Signature________________________ Date of completion___________________

Source: All Wales Special Interest Group- 2006

30
Appendix 5 Decision Making Process for Domiciliary Dental Treatment
Request for homee visie

Request for home visit

Confined to Bed
Yes O2 therapy
PEG fed

No

Wheelchair User
Yes
Can use private car or taxi

No

Outings Made
For social reasons Yes
– hair, shops

No

Assess at home
No conservation, extractions

Yes

Transport
arrange minibus, ring & ride,
ambulance?

No
Domiciliary
waiting list
Prosthetics Clinic
Scaling Domiciliary appointment
Urgent cons – limit
pain not controlled by treatment plan
painkillers, swellings, extractions – 31
bleeding simple only
 Appendix 6 Care Pathway for Domiciliary Oral Healthcare

Assess eligibility
Referral received from Does not meet criteria
according to Criteria for
member of multidisciplinary No appointment required
Domiciliary Oral car
team or self referral – see Letter back to referrer
Healthcare – see
Appendix 1 & 2
Appendix 3

Does not meet criteria

Accept/ prioritise/ place Can travel to surgery
on waiting list- Domiciliary assessment Arrange appointment
acknowledge referral required – see Appendix 2 and transport if required
referral

Visit for assessment

Risk assessment – see Appendix 4 No treatment required Review for
Discuss medical history future care
Contact and arrange Presenting complaint
appointment for Diagnosis and needs assessment
domiciliary visit
Obtain information
Send medical history form
to be completed before Discussion of options for treatment
Patient centred
visit Discharge or arrange
Include others involved with care
Details of NHS charges appointments for further
Prevention
and exemption treatment with reassessment
Integrated care
of continuing domiciliary
needs
Refer for treatment eg 2o care. Establish capacity to
Seek second opinion if necessary consent
Obtain valid consent
or contact interested
This care pathway is underpinned by audit, appraisal parties
and staff training. Provide treatment
Source: Wessex Domiciliary Care Group 2006 32
Appendix 7 Assessment of capacity for proposed dental treatment/decision

Name ……………………………….. NoK ……………………………………..

Address ……………………………. Relationship to patient

………………………………………. …………………………………………..

……………………………………….. Tel ……………………………………..

Tel …………………………………. GP …………………………………….

DOB ………………………………… Tel

Summary of proposed treatment plan/decision to be made

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………
Is the proposed treatment plan/decision unusual?
Yes  No  Don’t know 

If yes, state why …………………………………………………………………………….

………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Does the patient have a condition/impairment which may affect their capacity to consent to dental
treatment? Yes  No  Don’t know 

If yes, record reason for impaired capacity (e.g. Learning disability, dementia, brain injury, stroke etc)
……………………………………………………………………………………………….

Is the impaired capacity likely to be temporary or permanent?

Temporary  * Permanent  Don’t Know 

*If temporary, defer non-urgent treatment until capacity returns if possible

Assessment of capacity

Can the patient understand the information given to them about their treatment?
Yes  No  Don’t know 

Can the patient retain that information long enough to be able to make the decision?
Yes  No  Don’t know 

Can the patient weigh up the information available to make the decision?
Yes  No  Don’t know 

Or can the patient communicate their decision (whether by talking, sign language or any other means)?
Yes  No  Don’t know 
33
Was consultation with other professionals required to assess capacity?
Yes  No 
If yes, record name & status …………………………………………………..

Does the patient have mental capacity? Yes  No  Don’t know 

Best interests check list if the patient lacks capacity

What methods have been used to involve the person who lacks capacity in making the decision?
………………………………………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………………………….

Has the patient’s past or present wishes, feelings and beliefs been taken into consideration?
Yes  No  Don’t know 

Have others been consulted regarding the treatment/decision?

Yes  No  Don’t know 

Names and relationship to patient who can act in service user’s best interest contacted?
………………………………………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Does the patient have an appointed Lasting Power of Attorney or Court of Protection appointed deputy?
Yes  No  Don’t know 

If yes, record name and date contacted…………………………………………………….

Are you aware or any advance directives regarding dental/personal care?

Yes  No  Don’t know 

If the patient does not have any personal or legal advocates, do you need to involve the Independent
Mental Capacity Advocate (IMCA)? Yes  No  Don’t know 

If yes, provide
Name of IMCA …………………………………. Date consulted ……………………..

Outcome of consultation
………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Signature ………………………… Designation ……………………….

Name …………………………….. Date …………………………………

Vicki Jones Gwent Healthcare NHS Trust Nov 2007

34
Appendix 8 Domiciliary Equipment Details

Name Manufacturer Price ex VAT

Portable units Dentalman £15,241

Lysta MU 1000 £19,205

DNTL Procart £4,400

NewCoDent unit £8,995

Dentronic Mini Dent £10,309

Hygienist units Lysta £2,299

Dentsply Cavitron £1,575

Portable suction units Lysta £1,811

Dentalman £1,298

Dentrovac £4,434

Portable handpieces (rechargeable)

Derota Quayle £349

Handpiece +£111

Dentalman Dentalman Battery £193

Cordless Motor +£234
Handpiece +£398

Portable Light source

Lightpen Daray £5

Voroscope MXL
LED Portable light with
rechargable battery pack Nuview £640

NewCoDent Mirror light £ 49

Mirror light Dentalman £560 incl.charger

35
Orascoptic Evident £1000

Heat source
Safe Air Healthco £290

Registration block trimmer Accutrim £240

Extra autoclavable plates £26

Electric wax knife Alibaba.com £22.50

Carrying boxes
Stanley B&Q £20

Emergency O2 bag SP services £112

Trolley Screwfix £40

Other equipment

Smartlite Dentsply £480

Portable three in one Dentalman £529

Coaguchek
-portable INR machine Roche £700

Useful equipment websites include:

www.lysta.dk

www.dentalman.biz

www.js-davis.co.uk (Dentronic and Dentrovac)

www.dentsply.com

www.silvertree.co.im (Accutrim)

www.Alibaba.com (Electric wax knife)

www.daray.co.uk

www.coaguchek.com

36
www.quayledental.co.uk

Info @ DNTLworks.com– Portable equipment from USA- contact www.kabdental.com for UK source

www.Vorascopes.co.uk

www.orascoptic com

www.spservices.co.uk (Emergency oxygen bag)

www.screwfix.com/prods/66107

SiggiJokumsen @ aol.com (New Codent)

37
Appendix 9 Organisation of a Domiciliary Kit into Sub-kits

This list is an aide memoire, and is not prescriptive. Other items may be included according to
individual need and preference.

General Kit
This is likely to include:

Portable light
Portable suction
Examination instruments for initial assessment visits, eg mirror and probe
Finger Guard
Infection control items and equipment:
Gloves
Masks/Face visors
Protective clothing for dentist and nurse, e.g. plastic aprons
Sharps disposal
Alcohol gel
Plastic over-sheaths/cling film
Disinfection wipes
Waste bags
Paper towels, rolls, tissues
Dirty instrument-carrying receptacle
Protective spectacles for patient
Laerdal resuscitation pocket mask
Emergency equipment/ drugs kit / oxygen

Administrative Items
The following items are useful:

Identification badge Prescription pad

Diary BNF
Appointment cards Mobile phone
Record cards Pen
Referral forms A - Z Route Map/ Satellite Navigation system
Laboratory forms Change for parking
Post-op instruction leaflets Medical history forms
Consent forms Health promotion literature
FP 17’s List of contact phone numbers

Prosthetics Kit
This requires all the items that you would usually use for removable prosthetics

Impression material Adhesive/fix

Impression trays & mixing equipment Shade guide
Safe air heater Articulation paper
Portable motor, handpieces, burs Plastic bags

38
 Waxes Gauze
Pressure relief paste Cotton wool rolls
Bite registration material Vaseline
Wax knife Denture fixative
Bite gauge Dividers
Paint scraper/ occlusal rim trimmer Indelible pencil
Denture pots Denture marking kits
Scalpel Tissue conditioner
Impression disinfection

Conservation kit

Portable unit (motor and suction)

3 in 1 syringe
Handpieces and burs
Light source
Syringes, needles, needleguards
Mirrors
Conservation instruments and tray

Materials

Temporary dressing materials Dry socket medicament eg Alvogyl

Restorative materials Local anaesthetic cartridges
Matrix bands Topical anaesthetic cream/spray
Gauze Oraquix local anaesthetic plus applicator
Suture materials Cotton wool rolls and pellets
Haemostatic agents Vaseline
Bite packs

Periodontal kit

Hand scalers
Portable ultrasonic scaler
Toothbrushes, toothpastes and therapeutic agents, e.g. Corsodyl, Tooth Mousse

Surgical kit

Syringes, needles, needleguards

Mirrors
Forceps
Elevators
MOS instruments including instruments for suturing

39
Appendix 10 ROCS project Sheffield- example of good practice

The Residential Oral Care in Sheffield (ROCS) domiciliary project was instigated in 2000 as a
result of discussions between one of the dental advisors in Sheffield and SDO gerodontology
regarding the ad-hoc dental care arrangements available for older people in care homes in the
city. Its aim was to provide a more coordinated approach to improve access to dental services
for this often neglected group. Neither the CDS, nor GDS were able to provide the service to
the 100 plus homes alone, and it was clear that collaborative working should be the way
ahead.

A small group of interested General Dental Practitioners, the consultant in Dental Public Health
(DPH)and the local Salaried Dental Service applied to the Modernisation Agency for funding
under the Options for Change initiative and were successful. ROCS was launched in February
2004 and has evolved to now cover 50% of the care homes in the city, adapting since then to
the many changes in the dental contract. An annual screening is offered to all residents and
treatment provided if appropriate, either on a domiciliary basis, at the surgery or referred on to
the salaried service for the more complex cases.

The ROCS process is relatively simple and consists of the following stages:
1. Contact is made by the GDP with the home to be covered and an appointment
arranged with the care-home manager.
2. A meeting is convened to explain the details of the dental package. The ROCS
charter is explained - what the home can expect from the dentist & vice versa. The
residents are all offered a screening & appropriate information, and payment status
is collated by the home
3. At the screening visit(s), data is collected and forwarded to DPH consultant for use.
in needs-assessment exercises
4. Information is recorded in the patient care plans
5. Treatment visits are planned and provided, with referral to the Salaried Dental
Service if appropriate
6. Input from the Oral Health Promotion department on regular basis
7. Meeting with care-home manager to report on recommendations

The ROCS process has been well received and appreciated by those taking part as the
following quote illustrates:
A newly appointed Care Home Manager, following a screening visit: “In the 20 years I have
been working in Care Homes, you are the first dentist that has talked to us and explained
things to us, about the residents’ dental care. Dentists previously have visited, seen the
resident and dashed off again.”

ROCS is now funded on a sessional payment basis. A good working relationship with the PCT
commissioners is essential to the continued success of the project. The ROCS group meet
regularly as a team and continue to evolve through peer review and audit.

If you require any information please feel free to contact us:

Gill Heyes, SCD, Sheffield Salaried Primary Dental Care Service, Sheffield PCT
Gillheyes @ btinternet.com Tel:0114 226 1721
and/or
Richard Taylor, GDP, Dental Practice Adviser, Sheffield PCT
richard.taylor @ sheffieldpct.nhs.uk Tel: 0114 305 1027

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