Authors: Freeman, Ruth; 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: http://dx.doi.org/10.1308/1355761053695185

Affiliations: 1: Professor. Dental Public Health and Behavioural Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.

Publication date: 2005-04-01

More about this publication?

• Primary Dental Care is the research journal of the Faculty of General Dental Practice (UK), and the only peer-reviewed journal dedicated wholly to research in primary care dentistry. The aim of the journal is to promote academic and research aspects of primary dental care by publishing relevant peer-reviewed papers. In addition, reviews, reports of clinical cases, book reviews, opinions, summaries and abstracts of scientific meetings and news items are included.

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