Supporting tools

Protocols and Assessment Guides

As patients have quite different oropharyngeal conditions, which may change quickly during their hospital stay, the status of the oropharynx needs to be assessed as a daily routine.  Hospitals may develop their own assessment guides for staff to follow.  We have created an assessment guide which can be downloaded to help start the process.  

View and download the oral care assessment guide

View and download the oral care protocol

Related Pages

oral care assessment guide
oral care protocol

VAP development and prevention

vap video

VAP development and prevention

VAP has serious consequences both for patient health and hospital budgets. Development may be reduced with appropriate oral care techniques. This video shows how VAP develops and how oral care may help in the prevention. Watch the supporting video below.

oral care kits

Oral Care™ day kits

OroCare day kits facilitate introduction of an oral care hygiene routine over a 24 hour period. Available for 4 hours (q4) or 8 hour (q8) intervention options, they offer a simple to use disposable solution straight from the pack.  Watch the supporting video below.

bass brushing

The modified bass brushing technique

The modified Bass brushing technique has been proven to be the most effective in removing plaque. A soft brush is placed at the gum line at a 45 degree angle. The brush is "wiggled" 3-5 times, then moved toward the end of the tooth. All of this may be done without pressure. Watch the supporting video below.

Supporting articles

There are numerous published studies on Oral Care.  We have supplied links to the abstracts of the main supporting studies and more will be added in time.

Cost assessment of a new oral care program in the intensive care unit to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia.
Ory J, Mourgues C, Raybaud E, Chabanne R, Jourdy JC6, Belard F, Guérin R, Cosserant B, Faure JS, Calvet L, Pereira B, Guelon D, Traore O3, Gerbaud L.
Clin Oral Investig.2017 Nov 30. doi: 10.1007/s00784-017-2289-6

Reducing ventilator-associated pneumonia through advanced oral-dental care: a 48-month study
Garcia R, Jendresky L, Colbert L, Bailey A, Zaman M, Majumder M
Am J Crit Care. 2009 Nov;18(6):523-32

Oral care intervention to reduce incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia in the neurologic intensive care unit
Prendergast V, Rahm Hallberg I, Jahnke H, Kleiman C, Hagell P
J Neurosci Nurs. 2008 Oct;40(5):291-8

Oral Care in the ICU: don't forget to brush
Schleder, B J
Perspectives;8(2):1,5-7

Oropharyngeal secretion volume in intubated patients: the importance of oral suctioning
Sole ML, Penoyer DA, Bennett M, Bertrand J, Talbert S
Am J Crit Care. 2011 Nov;20(6):e141-5

Oral Health, Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia, and Intracranial Pressure in Intubated Patients in a Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit
Prendergast V, Hallberg IR, Jahnke H, Kleiman C, Hagell P
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19556415

Dental plaque biofilms
Nield-Gehrig J S
Dental Plaque Biofilms

CDHA Position Paper on Tooth Brushing
Asadoorian, J 
CJDH 2006;40(5):232-248

Guidelines for Preventing Health-Care-Associated Pneumonia 2003
Tablan O C, Anderson L J, Besser R, Bridges C, Hajjeh R,
MMWR Recomm Rep. 2004 Mar 26;53(RR-3):1-36

Oral hygiene in critically ill patients
Sands KM, Williams DW, Wilson MJ, Lewis MAO, Twigg JA, Wise MP.
J Med Microbiol. 2016 Feb 1: 65(pt 2): 147-159

Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention
Steven M. Koenig and Jonathon D. Truwit
Clinical Microbiology Reviews

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