Project Overview

Extensive research has explored the link between oral health and general health. However, it is evident that most people only access dental care when they are experiencing pain or required treatment. To effectively promote good oral health within the communities, it is imperative for oral health professionals to collaborate with other health disciplines and expand oral healthcare provision in a variety of settings.

Occupational therapists (OTs) specialise in promoting health and wellbeing by enabling people to engage in daily occupations, particularly those with disabilities, through activity modification and environment adaptations. Within their scope of practice, OTs assess patients and make recommendations for self-care, including personal hygiene and daily living activities. OTs are thus uniquely positioned to integrate oral health into patient care plans by making oral care recommendations and acting as oral care champions, educators and resource guides to raise the standards of oral care.

Despite promising findings regarding the role of OTs in oral health care, their collaborative relationship with the oral health profession remains underdeveloped. To date, a comprehensive review outlining the potential role and scope of occupational therapists in oral health promotion, along with identifying existing challenges and potential strategies, is lacking. The aim of this review is to fill this knowledge gap by comprehensively exploring the role of occupational therapy in oral health promotion and the integration of oral healthcare.