Journal of Disability and Oral Health

cover art

Cover Date:
August 2007
Print ISSN:
1470-8558
Electronic ISSN:
1754-2758
Vol:
8
Issue:
2

Referral patterns and access to dental services of people affected by homelessness in Dublin, Ireland

Aims: To assess the accessibility of a dental service in a dental clinic and a homeless drop-in centre in Dublin for people affected by homelessness, evaluate current referral patterns and investigate the level of methadone use in the population and corresponding use of drug services. Material and methods: A review was conducted of a comprehensive database of all 237 patient dental records using simple inclusion criteria. Comparisons were made with data from a general survey of homeless people in Dublin. Results: Showed 163 men and 74 women had attended, with a modal age range of 25–34 years. Only 16% of patients were over 40 years of age, of which only 6% were females. The main source of referral was from the homeless drop-in centre, in which the clinic is situated (39%); hostels referred 19% and day centres 12%. Previous input from the dental team into the centres through education, health promotion or screening improved the number of referrals. 61% of the patients were attending for treatment in methadone clinics. Conclusions: As the homeless population is not homogenous the targeting of services to certain sub-sets of this population is necessary, such as people over 40 years of age and women with families in bed and breakfast accommodation. Health education and screening can promote access to dental services. Finally, an interdisciplinary approach is essential so that an oral health assessment can be included in the initial assessments made by community welfare officers, hostel staff and drug centre workers.

Article Price
£15.00
Institution Article Price
£15.00
Page Start
51
Page End
56
Authors
Ruth Gray

Articles from this issue

  • Title
  • Pg. Start
  • Pg. End

  1. Editorial - Pushing Boundaries
  2. 50
  3. 50

  1. Referral patterns and access to dental services of people affected by homelessness in Dublin, Ireland
  2. 51
  3. 56

  1. An audit of patient assessment and treatment outcomes in anxious patients referred for conscious sedation
  2. 57
  3. 62

  1. Barriers to oral health care access among socially vulnerable groups: a qualitative study
  2. 63
  3. 69

  1. Descriptive study of factors modifying the periodontal status of a population of people with a learning disability in Spain
  2. 73
  3. 80

  1. The value of training doctors in the diagnosis of oral manifestations of HIV
  2. 81
  3. 85

  1. Student evaluation of clinical outreach teaching in Community Special Care Dentistry
  2. 86
  3. 90

  1. Preaxial acrofacial dysostosis (Nager syndrome): a case report
  2. 91
  3. 94

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