Oral Care: Overview for Nursing Assistants

Course overview

The population is aging, which is leading to an increase in the number of residents in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Due to advances in dentistry, the availability of dental insurance, and improved personal health measures and diets, elders have retained their teeth more than any other previous generation. While this seems like a win, teeth can cause problems far beyond the mouth once elders can no longer take care of their own oral health. This retention of teeth creates a need for care teams to understand as much as possible about the mouth as well as the complications and consequences of poor oral health. This course addresses the longevity of teeth, oral systemic connection, common oral diseases, and knowing what oral situations to report to a nurse manager. This content is aimed at the nursing assistant and is also applicable for nurses.