Performing Oral Health Assessments on Aging Patients

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• Learning Objectives

  Students will:

  • Develop interprofessional and oral health skills with older adults.
  • Assess oral health in older adult.
  • Describe the role of the nurse when providing oral health care to older adults.

• Getting Started

  This teaching strategy will incorporate the ACE.S Essential Nursing Actions: Assess Function and Expectations, Coordinate and Manage Care and Make Situational Decisions. The strategy utilizes the Smiles for Life curriculum from the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine. Access the Smiles for Life Curriculum at http://www.smilesforlifeoralhealth.org

  Have students read the following article, which offers an educational and clinical innovation designed to promote interprofessional oral health workforce capacity:

  Haber, J., Hartnett, E., Allen, K., Hallas, D., Dorsen, C., Lange-Kessler, J., … Wholihan, D. (2015). Putting the mouth back in the head: HEENT to HEENOT. American Journal of Public Health, 105(3), 437-441. Retrieved from http://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/full/10.2105/AJPH.2014.302495

  Jablonski, R. A., Therrien, B., & Kolanowski, A. (2011). No more fighting and biting during mouth care: Applying the theoretical constructs of threat perception to clinical practice. Research and Theory for Nursing Practice, 25(3), 163-175. doi:10.1891/1541-6577.25.3.163

  Download the following from the American Dental Association. (2009): ADA Caries Risk Assessment Form (Age > 6). Retrieved from http://www.ada.org/~/media/ADA/Science%20and%20Research/Files/topic_caries_over6.ashx

  For Oral Health Delivery Framework, see:

  Hummel, J., Phillips, K. E., Holt, B., & Hayes, C. (2015). Oral health: An essential component of primary care. Qualis Health. Retrieved from http://www.safetynetmedicalhome.org/sites/default/files/White-Paper-Oral-Health-Primary-Care.pdf

• Materials

  Students will read:

  Caries Management by Risk Assessment (CAMBRA) Age > 6            

  Oral Health Delivery Framework 

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  Student will implement Oral Health Delivery framework in caring for older adult

  ASK – about oral health of older adult using the Oral Health Risk Assessment Caries Management by Risk Assessment (CAMBRA) Age > 6

  LOOK – perform an oral health exam on the older adult using HEENOT and the Smiles for Life Module 7 

  • List the important points to look for in the oral physical examination (HEENOT) :

  • Lips, tongue, mucous membranes, teeth

   

  DECIDE ­ your nursing diagnosis for the oral health needs of the older adult in the community.

  • Develop a patient-centered management plan that includes oral health interventions.
  • Develop a risk profile that includes oral and oral–systemic health problems.
  • List potential problems.

   

  ACT –   Name three preventive oral health interventions you will implement.

  List two oral health referral sources in the community for the older adult.

  DOCUMENT – Student will document oral health assessment in Typhon.

• Suggested Reading

  Hunt, R. (2012). Health promotion and disease and injury prevention for older adults. Introduction to Community-Based Nursing. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer. 

  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Aging Publications 
  The above link provides information and statistics regarding chronic disease and wellbeing of older adults.
  
  Older Americans 2010: Key Indicators of Well-Being (Older Americans 2010) provides a comprehensive picture of our older population’s health and well-being. It is the fifth chartbook prepared by the Federal Interagency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics (Forum).

  ConsultGeri.org, the website of the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing at New York University's College of Nursing, contains many evidence-based assessment tools. Those listed below from the Try This: and How to Try This series are particularly recommended for the content on geriatric syndromes. The tool, an article about using the tool, and a video illustrating the use of the tool, are all available for your use. The SPICES tool is listed first, since it is an overall assessment tool.

• Author Information

  Erin Hartnett, DNP, APRN-BC, CPNP

  NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing

  New York, NY