Poor oral health among the people you support can lead to pain, infection, malnutrition and serious illness.

NICE Quality Standard, Oral health in care homes

This quality standard covers oral health, including dental health and daily mouth care, for adults in care homes (with and without nursing provision). It describes high-quality care in priority areas for improvement.
» Guidance on Oral health in care homes

Prescribing, Policies and Pathways

The integrated care board (ICB) is the local NHS organisation that ensures that health services work well together to improve health and wellbeing. The ICB have put together clinical and prescribing information including decisions, guidance, pathways and policies to healthcare workers within Hertfordshire.

Please ensure you use this website to stay up to date with the latest information and guidance. Prescribing, Policies and Pathways (hweclinicalguidance.nhs.uk)

You can view specific Nutrition documents here https://www.hweclinicalguidance.nhs.uk/all-clinical-areas-documents/nutrition-hydration for Primary Care, Care homes, relatives, and friends

Documents include:

  • Guides on Oral nutritional supplement (ONS), including thickeners and thickened guidance for Primary Care, Care homes, relatives and friends.
  • Malnutrition
  • Dysphagia
  • Coeliac disease
  • Vitamin insufficiency and vitamin deficiency
  • Eating and drinking at end of life
  • Eating well and eating well for for small appetites
  • Guidance on food fortification and homemade supplements
  • Managing nutrition
  • Position statements on the use of ONS, prescribed nutritional products, end of life and dessert style ONS.

Webinars

In December 2020 HCPA ran two webinars with the Clinical Director of the Special Care Dental Service please find resources and referral details for the service below:

Oral Health Management recording Click here
Oral Health Management Slides Click here
Oral Health Management FAQs Click here
Oral Health Management End of Life Recording Click here
Oral Health Management End of Life Slides Click here
Oral Health Management End of Life FAQs Click here

Other Resources

CQC – Oral health care in care homes Click here
Hertfordshire Special Care Dental Service Non Dentist referral form Click here
NICE Guidance including assessment tool Click here
NHS – Information on dentures Click here
NHS Mouth Matters resources Click here
Case Study –  Dental, frailty – Shaz’s story Click here
Case Study – Special care dental service – Megan’s story Click here
Oral Health Foundation – Denture care guidelines Click here