Denta-Med gel had its beginnings in aged care some 20 years ago. It was very effective then, but is now even more so with the addition of new technology and improved ingredients. Having worked in clinical dentistry for 20 years and 20 years plus as an oral health consultant, Dr Patrick Shanahan has an in depth knowledge of the problems confronting doctors, nurses, carers, and families.
Frequently in aged care, the combination of frailty, multiple medical conditions, often complicated further by dementia, stroke affected swallowing, and noncompliance, precludes the use of conventional oral care. In these situations providing effective oral care is one of the most stressful and challenging tasks in aged care. So it is not surprising that oral care needs are often not met.
Poor oral health has serious consequences beyond the mouth. Dr Shanahan spent many years in aged care with patients who had very ill health. On examining the mouth, there was often considerable dental neglect and very poor oral health. The most common cause of bronchopneumonia in the elderly is from aspiration of oral pathogens from the mouth. This can cost the health system a lot. The US estimates the cost of treating one case of pneumonia in the elderly at $US25,000!
Providing comprehensive dental treatment to someone who is in palliative care is not appropriate, but instituting inexpensive preventive oral care is very appropriate. Preventive medical care that includes oral care makes eminent sense. Not only because it will deliver better health care outcomes, benefiting the health providers and the patient. It may also save very scarce and precious health resources. This preventive medical approach should include everyone; even those without teeth, as studies have shown even those without teeth are just as much at risk as those with teeth.
Dr Shanahan saw the need for an oral health presence 20 years ago and since then has made it his own with many innovative ideas to assist the carers and those being cared for. Scientifically, since dental disease is caused by bacteria, it is accepted by experts that the most effective method of preventing dental disease would be an antibacterial approach. However most of the effective antibacterials used in oral care today have their origins as external skin disinfectants. While they might be effective, they are often unacceptable, unpalatable and have undesirable side effects.
These issues led Dr Shanahan to develop Denta-Med gel, the only antibacterial mouth gel that is safe, effective, pleasant tasting, and versatile. It can be used for people with and without teeth. It has been clinically proven to be as effective in improving oral health as the gold-standard antibacterial mouth rinse but without the awful side-effects.
Today the gel is being used in numerous aged care organizations, and in 2003, Dr. Shanahan received a Centenary of Federation Medal from the Prime Minister of Australia for his contribution for improving the oral health of the elderly.
FBNH has forty nine residents with approximately 92% in the category of moderate to severe dementia.
Conventional mouth care is often not possible when dealing with residents with aggressive or unpredictable behaviour.
AP Gel (Denta-Med) has been used for 3 years in this home. Audits have revealed AP Gel (Denta-Med) has been effective in maintaining a very satisfactory oral health standard but in many cases markedly improved the oral health status of our residents.
Director of Nursing, FB Nursing Home, WA
Dear Dr Shanahan
For some time I've intended to write to thank you for your oral gel (Denta-Med)....
At the time of your first lecture in Bunbury I nursed in aged care and the nursing home bought some of the gel (Denta-Med) for 2 of our residents whose dental problems caused them distress.
One, Mrs W, had had recurrent mouth ulcers most of her life and became unable and unwilling to tolerate dentures. She was "fed up". We used the Gel for her oral hygiene, and after a week por so persuaded her to give her teeth another try, using a dob of Gel on the palate of her dentures as well as cleaning her oral cavity with it. I don't recall her having much problem thereafter.
Another lady, Mrs L, was from admission reluctant to allow oral care. Obviously it was too painful. She had teeth that were almost black. She was seen by a dentist, but it was deemed by him and the family that treatment would be too stressful for her(she was very disorientated and confused) She had a strong faecal odour to her breath which was occasionallty treated successfully with Flagyl, but once the course was completed the odour would return. Nothing we did would moderate it. We decided to try the (Denta-Med ) gel. Because she refused to open her mouth for oral care, we used to put a little (Denta-Med) gel on a spoon and offer it to her. She had a habit of rolling food around her mouth and this she did with the (Denta-Med ) gel too.
A few weeks later she allowed us to clean her mouth with some gel on gauze, and a few weeks after we were able to use a soft toothbrush.
The faecal odour diminished and finally went after about six months and Mrs L changed from being an angry worried looking lady to being a happy person who laughed readily. She even opened her mouth spontaneously when she saw the toothbrush. The teeth too lost a lot of their discoloration. I felt at the time this was one of our major achievements in oral care, but really all credit must go to you.
One more success story.
Our grandson, Matthew, wore bands on his teeth for 2 years. He was meticulous about cleaning them as per instructions, but was repeatedly in trouble from the orthodontist for his failure to clean them properly. I gave him one of my tubes of Oral Gel (Denta-Med), and from then on all was well. I asked him to tell the ortho what he was using but being shy I'm not sure he did. You can tell what a difference this has made to my life personally and professionally. Thanking you so much.
F.M, Brunswick Junction WA
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