A day providing dental care in a local nursing home

Last week we visited a nursing home local to our Sundrive, Kimmage clinic after they approached us about seeing their 45 residents on site.

Like many homes, organising transport to external dental clinics is difficult. Between mobility issues, medical complexity and staffing logistics, appointments often get postponed — sometimes for years.

Preparing for the day

Before attending, we requested full medical histories, current medications, mobility status and consent details.

Each resident was added to our nursing home management system and allocated a scheduled time. With 45 residents on the list, preparation was key to making the day run smoothly.

We brought two full dental teams — a dentist and a nurse per team — along with our complete portable dental setup:

• Portable dental unit
• Digital portable X-ray
• Intraoral scanner
• Full infection control equipment

Essentially, we brought the clinic with us.

How the day ran

We split into two teams. Team 1 focused first on bedbound residents, delivering bedside care. Team 2 set up a dedicated treatment room within the nursing home for mobile residents.

Interestingly, 18% of residents were bedbound, reinforcing why on-site dental services matter so much in this setting.

By the end of the day:

• 38 patients were seen — 84% of all residents
• 7 residents were unable to be seen due to illness or declining treatment

What we found

Some of the findings were significant.

• 40% of residents had not seen a dentist in over 5 years
• 38 residents received a full oral examination and oral cancer screening
• 29 residents received a scale and polish
• Over 20% required fillings
• 6 residents required new dentures
• 4 dentures were relined

For many residents, small issues had simply been tolerated — loose dentures, sore spots, difficulty chewing — often because attending a clinic wasn't straightforward.

Treatment delivered

Where possible, we treated immediately.

Oral cancer screening. Every patient seen received a full screening. Early detection is critical, particularly in older populations.

Scale and polish — 29 residents. Improving comfort, reducing inflammation and helping maintain overall oral health.

Denture relines — 4 completed on site. Natural changes in the gums cause dentures to loosen over time. Relining improved stability and comfort immediately for those patients.

New dentures — 6 patients. We used our intraoral scanner to take digital impressions, avoiding traditional impression materials which can be uncomfortable for elderly patients. Their new dentures went into production the same week.

Why it matters

The numbers tell one story — but the real impact is in quality of life. Being able to eat comfortably. Speaking clearly. Smiling without discomfort.

For nursing homes, on-site dentistry removes the barriers: no transport coordination, no disruption to routine, reduced stress for staff, and earlier intervention before emergencies develop.

Providing dental care in this setting isn't just convenient — it's necessary.

We returned the following week to fit the new dentures and continue care for those who needed follow-up treatment. And we will keep making sure residents receive proper dental care without ever having to leave the comfort of their home.

If you manage a nursing or residential home and want to arrange a clinic day, phone us on +353 1 964 0111 or request a visit.