Daegu Health College to provide home oral care visits to 100 households across 9 districts through January

The DHC Integrated Care Support Center at Daegu Health College will provide home-visit oral care services to 100 households across nine districts and counties in Daegu through January, the college announced Wednesday.

The initiative stems from an MOU signed in July among Daegu Health College, the Daegu Metropolitan Government, the Daegu Dental Association, the Daegu-North Gyeongsang Province chapter of the Korean Dental Hygienists Association, and the Daegu chapter of the Korean Physical Therapy Association.

The program connects mobility-impaired integrated care recipients with specialists so they can receive both oral health and physical function management without leaving their homes.

The center has been conducting home oral care visits since September. On Monday, a team visited a household in Gwaneum-dong, Buk-gu, Daegu, to assess the resident's oral condition, denture use, dry mouth and pain symptoms, and living environment, and to review options for customized care and treatment referrals.

The program brings together specialists across multiple fields — dentists, dental hygienists and physical therapists. Dentists assess oral condition and treatment needs; dental hygienists provide instruction on brushing, denture care and dry-mouth relief; and physical therapists evaluate physical function and advise on safe postures for oral care. When additional treatment or support is needed, patients are referred to dental clinics or local care services.

Daegu Health College oversees the training and deployment of visiting staff and the development of standardized care guidelines and educational materials, drawing on its regional talent development program. A student club from the dental hygiene department, the Oral Care Team, will also accompany specialists on home visits to assist with oral care activities and take part in living-lab sessions aimed at finding solutions to problems identified in the field.

Executive Vice President Kim Young-jun said the program aims to improve access to home-based oral care for integrated care recipients, prevent health risks and strengthen the sustainability of community care. "We will develop this into a Daegu-style home oral care model built on collaboration between professionals and students," he said.