19/04/2026
Lost dentures are rarely recorded as a “serious incident” in care settings, but the consequences can be significant 😔
When they go missing, residents can experience sudden changes in eating, speech, confidence, & nutrition 🥣
Denture checks, including whether dentures are clearly marked, belong in the admission mouth care assessment, not as an administrative detail but as a practical safeguard for continuity of care 🖋
NICE quality standards highlight that admission assessments should include whether dentures are marked & whether the person wishes them to be marked (with permission). This simple step supports ownership, dignity, and safer day-to-day care.
At KOHC we help care homes turn this into routine practice through clear assessment steps, care plan documentation, and staff habits that reduce shared-storage mix-ups and the all-too-common problem of “mystery dentures.”
If your service wants to strengthen denture management and mouth care documentation, you can explore KOHC’s oral health training for care teams here:
Www.kohc.co.uk
