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Visually impaired lose out in dental care
4th May 2010
A dentist is expressing concerns over a lack of oral health information for the visually impaired, following the results of a new report.
Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, believes that more dental health information should be available to those who suffer sight difficulties after participants of the study claimed not enough is being done to cater for their disability.
More than half of the sample group complained that there is inadequate information concerning dental care available to them in the platforms they are able to access.
Dr Carter believes that oral health educators everywhere need to be more aware of visually impaired audiences and adjust the formats of their information so that it is accessible for everyone.
He says: ‘Around two million people in the UK suffer from a range of visual impairment, from low vision to complete blindness. We need to make sure these people get the support they need.'
The latest study, conducted in a low vision aid clinic at Moorfields Hospital in London, examined 100 patients who were visually impaired.
Each participant undertook a visual oral check, where every tooth was assessed and recorded alongside the levels of plaque and calculus in the mouth.
Despite the results, which showed the group to have equal oral health levels to that of adults tested in the Adult Dental Health Survey 1998, the visually impaired were less likely to attend for dental check-ups and more likely to only visit the dentist when in pain.
Dr Carter adds: ‘To discover that twice as many people with sight problems only visit the dentist when they are in pain is very worrying indeed and highlights a severe gap in dental information to this vulnerable group – this is something that needs to change.
‘The majority of people with sight difficulties need a magnifier to read, while others rely on audio tapes. We have set out a strategy to fill this audience gap which currently exists within dentistry.
'Our new website, which is in construction and scheduled to launch this August, will provide low vision audiences with magnified typefaces. We have also installed an audio capability to our dental health leaflets so that the public are able to listen to the educational resources we provide.'
The British Dental Health Foundation's new website will work in conjuncture will the Foundation's other services, such as their series of ‘Tell Me About...' leaflets, which cover topics such as tooth care, gum disease, children's teeth and diet, amongst others which are available via the charity's online shop.
Kate Watson, specialist in Special Care Dentistry, from University College London, headed up the research from the Eastman Dental Institute, the results of which were published in the April edition of the British Dental Journal.
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