ACORN is a communication and care framework used in NHS dentistry in Wales to help dentists understand patient needs, especially after the changes introduced post-COVID. It ensures patients get the right care at the right time.
🌈 What Do Red, Amber & Green Mean?
These colours help identify how urgently a patient needs dental care:
🔴 Red patients Urgent or high risk patients
You have urgent dental problems, pain, or high risk of worsening oral health.
Example: Toothache, infection, broken tooth, gum disease.
🟠 Amber patients Medium risk or preventive needs
You don’t need urgent care now, but you have some signs that need monitoring or early treatment.
Example: Early decay, mild gum issues, or you’re due a check-up.
🟢 Green patients Low risk, routine care
Your mouth is healthy, and you don’t need treatment right now.
Example: No decay, stable gums, regular hygiene.
How Does ACORN Fit In?
The ACORN conversation happens during your dental check-up. It helps your dental team understand:
- Your current dental health
- Your personal needs or concerns
- Your lifestyle factors (e.g., smoking, diet)
- Your future risk of dental disease
From there, your RAG status (Red, Amber, Green) is determined.
ACORN Stands For:
- Acknowledge We listen to you and your concerns.
- Clarify We explain what we see in your mouth.
- Options We offer different ways to manage or treat any problems.
- Recommendation We give you professional advice on the best next steps.
- Negotiate We agree together on a care plan that suits you.
Why It Matters
This system helps:
- Prioritise patients who need urgent care
- Focus on prevention, not just treatment
- Build a care plan with you, not just for you
- Ensure NHS dental time is used where it’s most needed
🦷 Why You May Need to Improve Your Oral Health Before Treatment
Under the ACORN system, your dentist works with you to understand your overall oral health before jumping into certain treatments. This is because some dental procedures won’t work well or could even fail if your mouth isn’t healthy first.
👇 Here’s Why:
1. 🛡️ Treatments Work Best in a Healthy Mouth
- If you have gum disease or poor oral hygiene, treatments like fillings, crowns, or dentures might not last.
- Example: Putting a crown on a tooth with inflamed gums is like building on a shaky foundation — it won’t stay strong.
2. 🦠 We Need to Reduce Risk of Infection or Complications
- Infections, active decay, or heavy plaque can increase the risk of problems during or after treatment.
- Cleaning your mouth first lowers these risks and makes your recovery easier and safer.
3. 💸 To Make the Most of Your NHS Dental Care
- NHS dentistry in Wales now focuses on prevention and long-term results.
- Before investing time and resources in complex treatments, we want to make sure you’ll get the best outcome.
4. 💪 It Puts You in Control of Your Health
- By improving your brushing, reducing sugar, or quitting smoking, you actively improve your future dental health.
- You’ll need fewer treatments later and may even move from Red or Amber to Green status in ACORN.
🗣️ What can you do?
- Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste
- Clean between your teeth daily
- Cut down on sugary foods and drinks
- Attend regular check-ups
- Follow your dentist’s advice on gum and tooth care
✅ The Goal: To make sure your treatments succeed and that your mouth stays healthy for the long term.
🦷 Your mouth. Your health. Your future.
Let’s build it together.
