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Mobile Dental Services in Senior Care Facility Settings
Dr. Namita Chaudhary, DDS started her dental career as a general dentist working in private practice in 1998. After quickly being introduced to mobile dentistry for seniors, she developed a passion to work with this population of people. Dr. Chaudhary became a co-owner of The Mobile Dentist, which serviced more than 50 senior living communities throughout the Maryland and Washington D.C. area. In 2003 she decided to open her own practice, serving seniors in her clinic, in addition to her mobile efforts. In 2005, she purchased a van labelled Senior Smile and expanded her services to independent living facilities, assisted living facilities, memory care units, as well as in-home services for home bound patients. Today she serves Maryland, Virginia and Washington D.C.. With her team, Dr. Chaudhary also provides oral care presentations at local schools and trainings or in-services for caregivers and nursing home staff at the individual facilities.
Seniors and special needs patients present with dental issues that can be challenging. With unique needs and various diagnoses, patient care in these types of facilities can be wearisome. "The work is not glamorous, it is actually very difficult" Dr. Chaudhary states. Some of the challenges she faces each day are patient behaviors, such as hitting and biting, confusion, and an inability to clearly communicate with them. These patients often refuse treatment or make treatment very difficult, not because they want to, but because their ailments limit them from knowing exactly what is occurring.
While this can make oral care very difficult for professionals and scary for the patients, Dr. Chaudhary and her team have learned that the most important thing to do is to ask for help from the staff or family members. "The caregivers understand each patient, they see them each day. This makes them helpful to us as outsiders performing a dental health exam. The caregivers can help give us an understanding of a patient's reaction, or even assist when they become violent. Patience, compassion, and staff involvement are the three most important things for us."
When Dr. Chaudhary was introduced to the Assisted Oral Care line from OraBrite® she immediately saw the benefits to these products. "I think the GripEazy toothbrush aids are wonderful items of need. They facilitate ease for our patients with dexterity conditions and it's good for family members to see their loved ones caring for themselves again. The pre-pasted disposable toothbrush with xylitol has successfully provided relief for one of my cancer patients as well."
Unfortunately, oral care for seniors in senior care facilities is notoriously limited due to reduced access to professional dental services, as well as difficulty maintaining self-care. When that is the case, nursing staff typically have to assist patients, but understaffed locations may struggle to assist with these essential needs. Dr. Chaudhary is excited to continue serving these populations. With hopes to expand her business, Dr. Chaudhary stated "It would be nice to branch out and cover more territory, having people go in opposite directions. Now we serve only 3 states, but who's to say we can't offer services in Florida, North Carolina or other states with high populations of seniors?" As Dr. Chaudhary's business grows, access to care for these types of facilities will too. Learn more about Senior Smile and services they provide at www.srsmile.com.
Image: Dr. Namita Chaudhary and Vanessa, Office Administrator NEWS
11/30/18
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