Promoting oral health promotion within community settings
The Dental Outreach Team was re-formed in 2021 to co-ordinate and deliver community outreach projects and clinical interventions with PDSE. The team provides and promotes oral health promotion within community settings and develops projects and initiatives across the South West Peninsula. The Dental Outreach Team are also key in providing support for the many research projects that are undertaken by PDSE.
You find out more in our Dental Outreach Team (DOT) Strategic Plan
Inter-Professional Engagement (IPE)
IPE introduces students to core academic skills in exploring, searching and selecting evidence-based information as well as developing community awareness to better understand their role in the community and healthcare setting. Students work with many different community and healthcare organisations including Barnardos, Plymouth Community Homes and Improving Lives Plymouth.
Open Wide & Step Inside
Open wide & Step inside is a programme that has been aimed at supporting teachers to deliver key oral health messages to children aged 4 to 7. Using specially designed animations and resources, children are introduced to ‘Geoffrey the Giant’ who quickly learns the consequences of not looking after his teeth. With the help of friends, Geoffrey learns the importance of oral health and regular visits to his Dentist.
The British Antarctic Survey Medical Unit (BASMU)
Each year BASMU send Doctors to support Arctic/Antarctic research teams during their ‘over wintering’ period. The Dental Outreach Team work with the medical unit to deliver a 4 days course which gives an overview of common dental emergency and trauma cases and their treatment. They also learn the basics of dental anatomy and charting, radiography anaesthesia and tooth extraction.
Supporting Smiles – Age UK Plymouth.
This project is aimed at helping people who are living with acute Dementia and their carers.
Support will include visiting local dementia day care centres to provide guidance and inter active demonstrations on tooth brushing and denture care as well as information on cross contamination procedures, storage and disposal of toothbrushes and oral health education sessions.
Fit & Fed – Plymouth City Council
We have been asked to support the local Fit & Fed project by attending a number of sessions over the Easter and summer holidays to providing interactive activities for the children and oral health information for parents.
Supporting People Experiencing Homelessness
We are supporting The Shekinah Mission by attending their Saturday morning drop-in sessions. These sessions are essential for people who are in need of a hot meal, shower, clean, dry clothes and help with accessing vital support networks. We offer information about Oral cancer self-assessment and general oral health information.
If you would like more information on how to get involved with IPE or Dental Outreach projects please email dentaloutreach@plymouth.ac.uk.