Background: The complex oral health problems of nursing home residents have been well documented. However, the influences on residents' oral health status, including opinions and experiences of dental professionals and nursing home staff, have not yet been adequately investigated.
Methods: The baseline questionnaire component of this longitudinal study was mailed to all registered dentists practising in Adelaide and Adelaide nursing home directors of nursing (DONs).
Results: 413 dentists and 97 DONs indicated that Adelaide dentists' interest and training in nursing home dentistry was low. Dental service provision for nursing home residents was very low and dentists preferred to provide treatment at their dental practices. Few dental hygienists were working in nursing homes and dental professionals provided little educational assistance for nursing home staff. Dentists and DONs held several common and many varying perceptions of the problems associated with dental care provision in nursing homes. Both identified a group of nursing home environmental constraints and a lack of portable dental equipment. DONs further identified a group of resident related problems, and dentists a group of dental practice-related problems.
Conclusions: These study results provide important information concerning problems with nursing home dentistry for dental service providers, educators, policy-makers, administrators and nursing home staff.