It is not that easy getting dental care for elderly in nursing homes. Dentists are not just like doctors where you can phone them and they can do a home visit, and truthfully, there are not a lot of doctors who do that anymore either. Yet one can always get a doctor and some nursing homes even have an in-house healthcare professional. There are also medical practices that only do home care, making a lot of money while they do it, and of course, there are always ambulance services if they are needed. Dental care is different. Dentists do not do home visits, at least, most dentists do not do home visits. And dentists do not have emergency dental ambulances so to speak. A nursing home is unlikely to have an in-house dentist as there is just not enough need for it. So apart from trying to arrange a dental visit and transport for a resident, what exactly or how exactly can nursing homes offer dental care? Mobile dentists, that is how!
Nursing home dental care
If you have a parent who needs mobile dental care this is one thing that nursing homes can do. Nursing homes in the USA, although mobile dentistry is not available all over the USA yet, have contact with the doctors and dentists who do home visits. It is not as easy for a dentist to do a home visit as they need a lot of equipment, good light, mirrors, running water, an extremely hygienic space and of course, the dental chair. And this is why there are mobile dental vans. The vans are specially kitted out with everything that a dental patient needs to be comfortable and of course, so that a dentist providing dental care for elderly in nursing homes can do their work properly.