Improving Oral Health Care for People with Intellectual Disability Program
Build confidence treating patients with intellectual disability in general dental practice
Many people with intellectual disability can be effectively cared for at their local dental practice with simple, practical adjustments.
The GROW team supports general dental practices in the CESPHN region to strengthen capability in delivering inclusive preventative oral health care.
WHY PARTICIPATE?
- Build team confidence in supporting patients with intellectual disability
- Strengthen inclusive, preventative care within your practice
- Enhance patient experience and engagement
- Contribute to equitable access to oral health care across your community
about the Program
The Improving Oral Health Care for People with Intellectual Disability Program is available to practices located within these postcodes.
The program includes:
1. Two education sessions
Designed for the whole practice team, including administration staff, dental assistants and hygienists, oral health therapists and dentists.
Sessions focus on:
- Understanding intellectual disability
- Recognising risk factors and barriers to accessing preventative oral health care
- Exploring practical strategies to support inclusive practice, including tools to promote emotional and physiological regulation and communication
- Identifying sources of clinical support and referral pathways for managing patients with complex needs
2. One Quality Improvement (QI) activity
- Practices are provided with an inclusive checklist to conduct a self-audit. The checklist supports practices to assess how inclusive they are and identify opportunities for improvement.
3. Sensory Regulation Toolkit
- Practices are invited to select sensory regulation items to support patients to feel calm, comfortable, and better able to engage in oral health care.
- CESPHN provides selected items, along with guidance to support their effective use within the clinical setting.
For more resources and tools to support oral health for people with intellectual disability visit the resources for oral health practitioners webpage.
Expressions of interest applications will be open soon
Contact
For more information or support please contact the Project GROW team at intellectualdisability@cesphn.com.au
This program is a component of CESPHN’s Primary Care Enhancement Program, a Commonwealth initiative established to build the capacity of health care professionals to care for people with intellectual disability.
