​​A new app, the Dental Companion, launched today by the Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme (SDCEP), delivers easy mobile access to SDCEP’s evidence-based guidance.

The app which is also available as a web-based resource for access from any computer joins the popular Dental Prescribing app to support improvements in patient care.

The Dental Companion presents four diverse guidance ‘toolkits’ based on the following SDCEP publications:

· Prevention and Treatment of Periodontal Diseases in Primary Care

· Management of Dental Patients Taking Anticoagulants or Antiplatelet Drugs

· Oral Health Management of Patients at Risk of Medication-related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw

· Prevention and Management of Dental Caries in Children

Each toolkit includes the key recommendations from the full published guidance, with supporting tools such as flowcharts and links to patient information.

Professor Jan Clarkson, Director of SDCEP, said: 'We are keen to employ novel approaches to the delivery and implementation of guidance. The Dental Companion allows dental professionals to access SDCEP’s evidence-based guidance from their mobile devices and will build on the success, popularity and usefulness of our Dental Prescribing app.'

The SDCEP Dental Companion is aimed at dental professionals working in primary and secondary care dental practice, those involved in dental education and undergraduate trainees. The app may also be of relevance to other healthcare providers.

Dr David Felix, Postgraduate Dental Dean for Scotland, NHS Education for Scotland (NES) said: 'NES welcomes the launch of the Dental Companion app as a valuable resource for dental professionals in Scotland and across the rest of the UK. This innovative way of delivering SDCEP’s evidence-based guidance will appeal to many dental professionals and will support the delivery of high-quality healthcare which is safe, person-centred and effective.”

The app is available to download free on Google Play or the Apple App Store. The desktop version can be accessed at http://companion.sdcep.org.uk/.

The Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme (SDCEP) operates within NHS Education for Scotland and provides user-friendly, evidence-based guidance on topics identified as priorities for oral health care. Further information on the work of SDCEP is available at www.sdcep.org.uk.

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