Introduction - The Australian population is following the international trend of an ageing society, with an increasing number of people living in residential care. As a result, the medical wellbeing of these individuals depends significantly upon the care provided by nursing home staff. Despite the overall improvement in the medical care of nursing home patients, there are studies indicating that there is often suboptimal oral and dental care of patients. Though there have been previous studies on oral care for nursing home residents, there is limited information available regarding the perspectives of general (medical) practitioners.
Method - Using qualitative methods, we consulted with ten general practitioners to determine their perceptions of oral care in nursing homes and views on improving the current system. General (medical) practitioners were interviewed about various aspects of nursing home oral health and access to dental care.
Results - Participant GPs perceived oral care to be suboptimal in nursing home residents; however, this was complicated by the patients’ poor health and lack of access to dental care and the existing burden on care staff.
Conclusion – Interviews indicated it would be beneficial for patients to receive an initial dental review on admission to the nursing home and receive regular dental reviews to improve the patient’s overall oral health.