DENTISTS BRUSH UP ON DEMENTIA KNOWLEDGE TO HELP PATIENTS

SCOTLAND’S largest dental group is committed to ensuring its teams are fully equipped with the skills, empathy and understanding to provide the best possible dental care experience for people living with dementia.

Clyde Munro Dental Group will endeavour to enrol all of its dental practices through a Dementia Friends awareness session as part of an ongoing partnership with Alzheimer Scotland.

The Glasgow-based group has been partnering with the Dementia Friends initiative since late 2019 and has already facilitated awareness sessions for staff and dentists from the majority of its practices.

Clyde Munro joined the initiative as part of Alzheimer Scotland’s wider movement to engage with more than 90,000 people in Scotland to become Dementia Friends, matching the number of those living with the illness.

Dementia Friendly Scotland Lead, Anne McWhinnie, has been providing teams with the training.

She said: “Many people living with dementia can feel misunderstood and isolated by the condition.

“Dementia Friends training is designed to combat societal misconceptions of dementia and help increase awareness of the disease, so that people living with the illness feel recognised, valued and understood in their community.

“All areas of society have a part to play in making this become a reality. However, having prolific groups like Clyde Munro Dental Group partnering with us is a great lead by example for others.”

Dental therapist Emma Miller works in Orkney, which has three practices under the Clyde Munro banner. She went through the Dementia Friends training alongside all 30 of her colleagues.

Emma said: “A large number of people are living with dementia so the Dementia Friends programme will be hugely beneficial in informing us on how we can support them in the dental setting and we look forward to putting the training into action.

“The improved awareness of the illness has allowed practice staff to recognise the signs of dementia and treat patients in consideration of this. We’re looking forward to using our new-found knowledge to help patients with dementia feel as at ease as possible.

“What really stood out to me from the training is the progression of the disease and how it can impact everyone differently. I covered dementia very briefly at University, but don’t otherwise have any experience of the disease. The Dementia Friends training has been invaluable in this aspect.”

Emma also shared her dental hygiene advice for carers of people with Dementia.