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“Aged care workers predominately do not have adequate training in oral health care, but it is essential they do, because it’s about so much more than having clean teeth,” said Leonie, who for the past few years has focused on supporting older people through her Seniors Dental Care Australia initiative.

“Good oral hygiene helps people feel good about their appearance, it means they have a functional mouth for chewing and swallowing, and it supports speech – so improving oral health is about supporting general health and wellbeing, and overall self-esteem.

“Just like treating a wound, oral health care needs specific knowledge. Carers need a good understanding of teeth cleaning, dentures and products to achieve the best outcomes in the safest way possible.

“It also needs a trauma-based approach, because in many cases people have had negative experiences associated with dentistry, whether it’s dental procedures or a lack of access to dental care in the past, which can create feelings of apprehension or anger.”

With the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards casting a spotlight on oral health, including a requirement for strategies for people with cognitive decline and dementia, as well as other considerations like the need for fluoride toothpaste, application of dental products and aids, and dry storage of dentures, training for aged care workers has never been more important.

Taking it a step further, Leonie says it’s time for providers to reconsider their oral health policies and procedures and ensure each aged care resident or home care client has an oral health plan. With about 60 per cent of aged care residents having their own teeth or their own teeth with partial dentures, more people in aged care are retaining more of their natural teeth and there are more people with complex dental work – so a one-size-fits all approach is simply not effective.

“We talk about person-centred care, but our residential aged care homes are supplying the same toothbrushes and toothpaste to every resident, making the person in charge of purchasing also in charge of everyone’s oral health care, which doesn’t make any sense,” said Leonie.

“What we need to be doing, is considering people’s preferences, comorbidities and polypharmacies, as well as their previous dental work.

“Do they have dentures or partial dentures? Do they have implants, crowns, bridges or orthodontic retainers? Do they have cognitive impairment? What is the level of their mobility? All of this is crucial to understanding how to best manage oral health in the individual.

“But it may be as simple as purchasing a toothbrush with a handle for someone with arthritis.”

ACCPA is filling this critical training gap with the new Oral Health Care for Seniors Masterclass, a two-hour online professional development opportunity delivered by Leonie.

“The training must be led by a qualified professional who understands modern dentistry and the complexities it poses,” she said.

“However, we are also hoping to develop oral health champions in a train-the-trainer model in the future.”

Feedback from previous training has been outstanding – not just for upskilling but for general knowledge.

“We’ve had incredibly positive feedback with many participants saying they finally know how to clean their own teeth properly, but overall, they feel better equipped to manage the oral health of older people, and for me that’s what it’s all about.”

The Oral Health Care for Seniors Masterclass is vital not only for personal care workers, but also nurses and allied health staff, as well as managers who have responsibility for policy development and procurement procedures.

The next Oral Health Care for Seniors Masterclass will be held Wednesday 12 February 2025 1-3pm AEDT. To enrol or find out more, visit .