Bringing Smiles to Care Homes: Transforming Dental Care for Residents 

We invited Dr Stephen Denny, Principal Dentist at Dental Beauty in Benfleet, to share his experiences of working with NHS Mid and South Essex to develop a programme that is delivering dental services to care home residents. 

Stephen said: 

For the past year, I have had the privilege of delivering dental care directly to over 1500 residents in care homes across south east Essex. This experience has been one of the most rewarding in my 30+ years as a dentist. It has shown me just how transformative access to care can be for some of the most vulnerable members of our community. 

The challenge of accessing dental care 

For most care home residents, visiting a dental practice isn’t just difficult, it can be impossible. For some, physical health issues can make traveling to a dental practice or transferring into a dental chair unthinkable. For others, having a condition like dementia can make the unfamiliar and clinical environment of a dental practice overwhelming. In some cases, non-verbal residents can’t even express their discomfort or need for treatment, leaving them in pain for many years. Unfortunately, this has historically resulted in higher levels of health inequalities for care home residents compared to other groups of the population. 

A positive partnership 

NHS Mid and South Essex became responsible for commissioning dental services in April 2023, and have since initiated various pilot programmes to improve access to dental care. I have been involved in developing the care home pilot and it has been refreshing to have dentists’ input into the service being welcomed and acted upon, to shape a service that truly meets the needs of residents.  

I have also been very lucky having the support of our partnership with Dental Beauty which has funded the cost of the administrative staff, and the equipment needed to provide this service. 

Reaching residents where they are  

We are one of 11 dental practices who have been commissioned to deliver dental services to all 285 care homes in mid and south Essex.  

Initially, the idea of delivering services outside of our clinics was quite daunting, and for the first few visits we took far more equipment with us than we needed! We can’t bring everything (like x-ray machines), but we have refined our system to include most of what we need. For those residents requiring an x-ray, we arrange appointments on our quieter Saturday morning clinics if they are able to travel. 

My team of dentists, dental nurses, and administrators travel to the care homes equipped with portable trolleys. We set up in communal lounges or visit residents in their rooms. It’s an efficient way of working and we can usually see between 15 – 20 residents in one session. Our work focuses on practical and essential care: relieving pain, cleaning teeth, repairing dentures, and fitting new ones.  

However, the most important part is educating the staff and highlighting the importance of a good oral hygiene regime.  

Life changing services  

Care homes had previously struggled to arrange dental visits, and community dental services were overwhelmed with long waiting lists so many residents hadn’t seen a dentist in years. 

This gap in care is why the work we’re doing is so vital. By proactively visiting them, we’re able to identify and address issues that could otherwise go unnoticed. It is something very personal and close to my heart as my mum suffered with vascular dementia in her later years and I witnessed the effect this has within my family firsthand. 

A rewarding experience 

The gratitude we’ve received from residents and their families has been overwhelming. For many residents, this is the first time in years they’ve been pain-free, or able to eat comfortably. It’s rewarding to see them happy and more confident socialising again. 

I recently treated Ivy, shortly before her 105^th birthday! For a while she had only been able to eat soft foods like mashed potato and porridge and had missed eating her favourite breakfast of sugar on toast – maybe not the dentist’s choice for breakfast but I think at 105 she can have what she wants! After we finished her treatment she was so pleased to be able to eat her favourite foods again – a simple joy most of us take for granted!

This project has also been incredibly fulfilling for the rest of our team, giving us a deeper connection to the patients we serve and giving our younger dentists different career opportunities.  

Oral health champions  

The pilot isn’t only about treating residents. We’re working with care home staff to create long-term change. By training carers as Oral Health Champions, we’re empowering them to better understand and support residents’ oral health. This collaborative approach ensures residents receive ongoing care, even between dental visits. 

Hope for the future 

Everyone deserves to smile, no matter where they live. The success of our pilot has ensured it will become a commissioned service across mid and south Essex.  

I’m hopeful that other areas of England will adopt similar models to ensure everyone, regardless of their circumstances, has access to the dental care they deserve.