Assessing the dental health needs of children in the paediatric intensive care unit

Many children admitted to paediatric intensive care units (PICUs) present with unmet dental health needs or develop these during their admission. It is important to maintain good oral health because suboptimal oral hygiene is linked to various dental and medical conditions, with intubated patients being at risk of developing hospital-acquired pneumonia. This article outlines the role of PICU nurses in identifying children's dental health needs by undertaking oral assessments when each child is admitted to the unit and by implementing national initiatives and guidelines on oral health. The article also details the findings of a service evaluation in the PICU at Evelina London Children's Hospital, England, which demonstrated the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene and the benefit of opportunistic dental treatment while children are admitted to the unit.