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Follow the links below to find material targeted to the unit's elements, performance criteria, required skills and knowledge

Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Identify patient’s oral hygiene requirements to ensure good oral health
   • Liaise with supervisor to confirm individualised care plan supports requirements to address patient’s oral hygiene needs using a person-centred approach
   • Work effectively with patients from a diverse range of backgrounds to meet individual preferences in relation to provision of support or assistance with oral hygiene
   • Discuss and confirm the patient’s level of participation in meeting their own oral hygiene preferences and provide information to the patient and/or carer as required
   • Confirm oral hygiene requirements are within scope of own knowledge, skills and work role and seek appropriate assistance where patient requirements are outside scope
   • Take into account and address impacts that provision of oral hygiene may have on the patient and address any situations of risk associated with the provision of support and confirm actions with supervisor
   • Update knowledge to identify appropriate oral hygiene products, processes and aids for providing assistance and promoting independence in line with the patient’s individualised care support plan
2. Assist and support patients in an appropriate manner
   • Provide oral hygiene support or assistance in an appropriate environment
   • Use effective communication, appropriate body language and a caring attitude to facilitate patient understanding of, and comfort with, oral hygiene processes taking place
   • Clarify and address difficulties in providing support, including patient behavioural responses with patient and supervisor within organisation protocols
   • Adapt techniques or arrangements in case of patient refusal or inability to comply as recommended in the individualised care support plan
   • Recognise signs that indicate an oral health problem, including distress or behaviours of concern, especially in patients unable to articulate their symptoms or concerns
   • Develop trust, rapport and respect with the patient and work in an appropriate environment to maintain dignity at an optimal time.
   • Ensure patient is in a position which provides visual access to the mouth seeking their assistance to open their own mouth to minimise contact with the mouth and use appropriate infection control procedures
   • Provide support for patient’s head or chin to enhance visual access without creating discomfort for the patient
3. Assist and support patients in their identified oral hygiene needs
   • Prepare oral hygiene products and aids for use with teeth and soft tissue or dentures in an appropriate, safe and patient preferred manner
   • Inform patient and/or carer of oral hygiene processes to take place and incorporate toothbrush care
   • Provide and record individualised care support or assistance with oral hygiene tasks with consideration of identified patient preferences or risks
   • Where appropriate encourage patient to wear, insert and remove own dentures in line with care plan and support and assist patients with care of dentures
   • Update knowledge of techniques to improve oral hygiene practices and modified oral hygiene methods and aids
4. Recognise and report changes in patient oral hygiene requirements
   • Regularly review and document oral hygiene techniques being used to ensure oral health is maintained according to the oral health care plan
   • Identify variations in oral hygiene support requirements and report to supervisor any concerns to arise during patient contact
   • Consult with patient and supervisor to identify required changes to procedures and oral health products and aids
   • Maintain and file documentation using relevant technology