‘Special needs may be just trying to get carers to clean teeth’

Treating patients who don’t understand what we are doing or why – and certainly don’t want to be there – amid some strict time constraints can be challenging. I always imagine how scary it is – the different smells, someone coming at you wearing a mask with tools in their hands and so on. We always try to show what we are doing. It takes time to build relationships and we are lucky that we can call patient back several times for short visits. However, we do work under UDA now, which is a problem.

Our role requires a ‘holistic approach’ – and we always try to treat the patient rather than the symptom. We speak (or sign) with patients and have a hoist in the surgery and cushions to make them more comfortable. We have just received a skylight box, which we can use to distract them, and this new clinic is bright with big surgeries. Common problems include young children with caries, often needing treatment with general anaesthetic. Special needs may mean just trying to get carers to clean teeth. Often the parents haven’t been able to get to a general dentist so oral health instruction is always needed, especially in nursing homes where there can be a high turnover of staff.