Caring for people in ways
we would want for our loved ones
- Improving access to dental care
- Reducing inequalities
- Improving the quality of the service
- Improving oral health
- Provision of the primary dental care appropriate to the individual needs
- Treat people with compassion, dignity and respect
- To reduce the cost of dental care
Rules in Special Dental Care to improve patient’s quality of life by teaching dental students and young dentists: a) empathy ‘cultivation’, b) enhancement of observational skills, c) enhancement of subjective analysis
Patient-centered clinical practice involving: a) inner experience, b) perspective of the patient, c) capability to communicate this to the patient
Key skills of caring clinician: interpersonal relationship, communication competency, diagnostic observational skills, understanding the patient, observing body language, focusing on important nuances, empathy, methodical approach.
How SCD team may achieve the goals ?
- Service integration
- Cooperation and team work
- Flexible approach
- Efficient management
- Empathy and professional passion
Strenghts of Special Dental Care:
Strengths:
- access provision for children and special needs individuals not able to get dental care in mainstream general dental practice
- short waiting times
- good relationship with other dental stakeholders accepting referrals from all sectors
Opportunities:
- wider oral health promotion: caries prevention and management, oral cancer prophylaxis and perio prevention programmes should be based on needs assessment and the local Oral Health Strategies recommendations
- use of mobiles to improve pt attendance