Demand for domiciliary dental care is increasing as a result of a growing population of elderly and functionally dependent people, legislative pressure and an increasingly dentate population.
Objective: To estimate the amount and types of dental care currently being undertaken on a domiciliary basis in Scotland and to examine the barriers to the provision of such care.
Method: A descriptive study involving both self-administered postal questionnaires and telephone interviews was employed. All General Dental Practitioners (n= 1995) and Community Dental Officers (n=200) in all 15 health board areas across Scotland were included in the postal survey. A small number of respondents provided contact details for a follow-up telephone interview. Data were analysed in SPSS (SPSS (UK) Ltd, Woking, Surrey).
Results: The valid response rate was 66%. Sixty seven per cent of dentists undertook at least one domiciliary visit per year, mainly for elderly patients. Of those respondents not providing domiciliary care, 19% stated that they would never consider doing so. Prosthetic treatment was undertaken most commonly. Other types of treatment were largely delivered by the Community Dental Service. Many dentists did not carry a light source or emergency essential drugs and half of the dentists overall were not confident to administer emergency drugs. Significant problems were identified in relation to the packaging and carriage of contaminated instruments and clinical waste. Barriers to the provision of domiciliary care included time, poor remuneration, infection control concerns, lack of suitable equipment and difficulties of carrying emergency drugs.
Conclusion: Staff training, specialist equipment and new models for the delivery of domiciliary care are required. Funded by CSO grant CZG/4/2/58.