Student nurse helping others overcome fear of the dentist
A STUDENT nurse is helping people with learning disabilities overcome their fears of the dentist.
Tyler Payne, who was named RCN Wales Student Nurse of the Year 2017, said she has drawn on personal experiences to aid her work.
“I can’t imagine doing anything else other than being a learning disability nurse,” said Tyler, who is in the final year of her nursing degree at the University of South Wales.
“My mum died when I was quite young and I’ve been a carer, along with my dad, to my big brother who has autism and learning disabilities.
“He’s my best mate and my inspiration. Seeing how far he’s come and how he’s overcome things is why I was drawn to this area of nursing.”
Tyler has helped run a youth club for people with learning disabilities for years.
And more recently, she designed a dental desensitisation kit for people with a phobia of dentists, which also contributed to her RCN award win.
The idea started after a placement with a community team where staff were using a desensitisation tool which improved the number of blood tests they had been able to get from patients with learning disabilities.
Her second year assignment was developing health promotion and this was where her idea for a desensitisation kit came in.
“It’s a common thing that people with learning disabilities, and especially people with Down’s syndrome are prone to having dental health conditions and anxiety,” said Tyler.
“I visited a local dentist who confirmed that people with learning disabilities do have more issues accessing dental care and are scared of going.”
Tyler took simple dental implements, a cup, latex gloves and dental tools, and also filmed the journey to a dentist so that someone could see the inside of a dental practice, from the corridor to sitting in the dentist chair.
“I did a voice-over for the film, which also has text, so someone will have a very clear idea of what happens when they visit.”
Tyler put the film on a USB stick shaped like a tooth and together with the dental instruments she had the beginnings of her kit.
“I tried using it myself with someone with learning disabilities and it worked really well.”
The tools help people to become familiar with what is used at the dentist and the film talks through what will happen to ease anxiety.
“The kit isn’t just for people with learning disabilities, it can be used for anyone with a phobia of the dentist. It cost £7 to put together the kit, which is much less than a hospital admission and general anaesthetic if a problem becomes severe.”
Tyler has been using one kit so far, but hopes the idea will be picked up by others who can invest in it as a preventative measure.
As to the future for Tyler, after she graduates later this year she has a job lined up working with inpatients who have learning disabilities and associated mental health and physical health problems.
“I know it’s something that gets said a lot, but I just want to work in an area where I can make the most difference,” she added.