Journal of Disability and Oral Health

cover art

Cover Date:
December 2007
Print ISSN:
1470-8558
Electronic ISSN:
1754-2758
Vol:
8
Issue:
3

A prospective audit of a Day Stay Hospital service for the dental management of adults with disabilities

Aim: To carry out an audit of a day stay general anaesthetic/sedation service, for the provision of dental care to adults with physical and or intellectual impairments and/or who are medically compromised. Objectives: To investigate current waiting times for care, establish the nature and frequency of medical complications, determine outcomes of dental treatment and obtain patient views relating to dental treatment on the Day Stay Unit. Design: Prospective clinical audit. Setting: A district general hospital in the north east of England. Methodology: All adult patients attending for dental treatment under day stay general anaesthesia or conscious sedation at South Tyneside District General Hospital over a period of 24 months (December 2002 to November 2004) were audited. Using questionnaires, data on demographics, waiting times, dental and anaesthetic care provided, post-operative morbidity and patient satisfaction were collected. Results: The average waiting time for care was 36 weeks. Dental treatment carried out differed greatly from that predicted at assessment. Minor post-operative complications only were reported in 35% of patients and the majority of patients were very satisfied with the treatment they received. Conclusion: The standard for waiting times was not met and was exceeded by 12 weeks. More invasive treatment was required than had been anticipated resulting in an extended operative period, however peri and postoperative morbidity was found to be low. It is clear from the audit that waiting times are unacceptably high and as a result it would appear that the oral health of those with disabilities is being compromised. A business case has been submitted to the Primary Care Trust for increased resources to address the situation and if the bid is successful a further audit of the service will be carried out.

Key words: Day-stay, sedation, general anaesthetic, adults with disabilities

Article Price
£15.00
Institution Article Price
£15.00
Page Start
99
Page End
104
Authors
J Haq, K E Wilson, E Webb

Articles from this issue

  • Title
  • Pg. Start
  • Pg. End

  1. Editorial
  2. 98
  3. 98

  1. A prospective audit of a Day Stay Hospital service for the dental management of adults with disabilities
  2. 99
  3. 104

  1. The oral health of Romanian young adults with multiple disabilities, in Bucharest, Sector 2
  2. 105
  3. 110

  1. Intranasal and intravenous sedation with midazolam in a child with special needs – a case report
  2. 111
  3. 114

  1. The importance of follow-up dental findings to diagnose Sauk syndrome: a case report in a child
  2. 118
  3. 123

  1. Mastocytosis – oral and dental manifestations and medical considerations for dental treatment: a case report
  2. 124
  3. 128

  1. Allgrove’s syndrome and oral health care
  2. 129
  3. 131

  1. A case study on the use of turntable transfer
  2. 132
  3. 134

  1. Evaluation of oral health knowledge among personnel in an institution for the rehabilitation of disabled young adults
  2. 135
  3. 141

  1. referees
  2. 142
  3. 142

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