Mental health problems are very common: one in four of us is likely to have an episode of mental illness at some point in our lives, which means that dental nurses will encounter patients and colleagues with psychiatric problems (NHS Information Centre for Health and Social Care, 2009).
Some people will have a diagnosis and will be receiving treatment; other patients may not be identified but their behaviour may lead you to believe they are affected. These people can be more challenging to treat and may require careful management.
People with mental health problems are entitled to the same standards of care as the rest of the population whether they are institutionalised or in the community. They have a greater risk of oral disease due to the side effects of medication and a general lack of self-care, and higher treatment needs due to difficulties in accessing care, attitudes of dental teams and challenges of providing treatment for uncooperative patients.
Register now to continue reading
Thank you for visiting Dental Nursing and reading some of our resources. To read more, please register today. You’ll enjoy the following great benefits:
What's included
-
Up to 2 free articles per month
-
New content available
Already have an account? Sign in here