Oral healthcare for people with dementia: a policy review

Good oral healthcare is integral to healthy active ageing. Oral healthcare policies and guidance provide recommendations to ensure healthcare staff can support good oral health and prevent complications such as gum disease, denture loss, periodontal pockets, mucosal lesions and dental caries in older people, including those with dementia. However, people with dementia often experience worse oral health compared with those without dementia. Oral healthcare policy can drive better oral healthcare for people with dementia by considering and mitigating the unique needs of people with dementia such as their symptoms of forgetfulness, anxiety and fluctuating memories. Exploring the relationship between dementia and oral healthcare policies are important to examine whether these policies could promote good oral healthcare for people with dementia or not. This policy review explored current policies, standards and guidelines relating to oral healthcare for people with dementia in the UK and examined their target audiences, policy contexts and how they have been implemented.

A policy review was undertaken. UK websites at national, regional and local levels were searched during March 2023-February 2024; relevant policies from 2008-2023 were screened and included. Data were extracted and the findings were narratively summarised.

Of 170 identified documents between 2012 and 2024, nineteen addressing both dementia and oral healthcare were included in the review. Ten were dementia-focused and nine were oral healthcare focused. Eight documents briefly discussed oral healthcare for people with dementia, typically as part of broader care for older people or care home residents. Twelve were intended for healthcare professionals, while only two were for people living with dementia. There were no quantifiable outcomes nor milestones for success around oral healthcare for people with dementia discussed in these documents.

The findings indicated that oral healthcare for people with dementia remains fragmented, with limited considerations of their unique needs and symptoms.