Integrating Dental Professionals Into Aged Care With Focus on Australia: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Oral Health
• Healthcare Integration

Background:

• Poor oral health is prevalent among residents with dementia in aged care facilities.
• The role of dental hygienists (DHs) in improving this demographic's oral health within these settings is not well understood.
• Integration of DHs into multidisciplinary teams in aged care facilities (RACFs) needs further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review existing evidence on the integration of dental hygienists (DHs) in residential aged care facilities (RACFs).
• To assess the feasibility of these integrations for improving oral health outcomes in residents with dementia.
• To explore the potential for multidisciplinary collaboration involving DHs in RACFs.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology.
• Searches included peer-reviewed articles and grey literature on DHs in RACFs with dementia patients or multidisciplinary teams.
• Data extraction utilized a modified JBI source of evidence template.

Main Results:

• Fifty-eight studies were included, categorizing integration strategies as support-focused or service-focused.
• Limited evaluation of the feasibility of these integration strategies was found.
• Key facilitators for multidisciplinary collaboration included diverse strategies, defined roles, administrative adjustments, skill development, and innovation, though no RACF collaboration examples were identified.

Conclusions:

• Limited progress has been made in multidisciplinary collaboration and DH integration within RACFs.
• Evidence suggests both support-focused and service-focused strategies can enhance oral health for dementia residents.
• Further research is needed to optimize DH integration and collaboration in aged care settings.