Tag Archives: community practice

Wipe twice!..Even at community (oral disease prevention)

Posted on by
2

\

Figure1. Arielle sitting on a disinfected chair.

As dental hygienist it is important to follow through with universal precautions as we are exposed to varying diseases. Infection control would protect both the clinician and the client or community.  My community group and I incorporated proper infection control knowledge even in the community setting. In the community setting at Pioneer house, we set up our “clinic” in their arts, and tv room. Hence, we had to utilize radio, pool table,chair surfaces as areas to place our instruments. To prevent the spread of disease we used double layer of bibs,wiped down twice and barrierred door handle. We also set up and labelled an area for the used instruments.

Despite not being in our usual dental office clinic setting, we translated the knowledge of infection control. We prevented the spread and acquisition of oral disease.

Stop that Lesion! (Oral Disease Prevention)

Posted on by
Reply

Figure 1. The outside view of BPL

At Broadway Pentecostal Lodge I provided care for a 98 year old lady. During the assessment I found a lesion at the floor of the mouth. I recorded the lesion description measurements, colour, appearance,texture. My clinical instructor also took a look and took an intraoral picture. We followed the protocol of the site by taking immediate action since it was causing the client discomfort. We consulted Dr. Laronde and we also put an order up for the client’s medical doctor to come take a look. As a result, nystatin was applied topically in that area. The following week I found out that the lesion was most likely some type of fungal lesion as it has started to resolve. On the third week follow-up the lesion had no longer the whitish-yellow cheese curd appearance and no longer was giving the client pain.

From this experience I reflected that through the following protocols, I had taken part in preventing the progression of the lesion.

Health Promotion

Posted on by
Reply

Currently the British Columbia’s Medical Service Plan (MSP) does not cover for dental care. With the only minor exception for emergency dental care provided at hospitals and residents 19 years old or younger who are a part of a low to moderate income family. (1) Thus, my group ( consist of Arielle,Nancy and I ) want to advocate and work towards including oral assessments with in the MSP. The oral assessment would include intra/extra oral exam, dental exam, and periodontal exam. We believe as health care professionals, it is important to view health in a holistic sense. People go to their doctors to get their yearly blood work done to prevent diseases, maintain health, and ensure the health of the individual. because they want to know that everything is healthy. Likewise, an oral assessment is a baseline indicator to whether the mouth is healthy or unhealthy. We also believe that by inputting oral assessment as apart of the MSP, the population will gain an insight on the notion of prevention and maintenance of the oral health. Moreover, Integrating oral health into the MSP, coincides with the Ottawa Charter of reorienting health services so that different health care professions work together to satisfy the need of a person as a whole. (2)

As apart of our cause advocacy project, we plan to act on this by means of A) Writing a letter to Michael De Jong B) Starting a facebook page to gain support from fellow hygienists.

In doing so, we hope that once this is in place there will be a decrease in oral health disparity present in BC and also promote the notion of maintenance of oral health as apart of overall health.

Please see the link below for the Facebook page we created

https://www.facebook.com/groups/324277417620415/

Our letter to Michael De Jong is found below.

DHYG410_Cause_Advocacy_Nancy_Anna_Arielle

 

Reference

  1. British Columbia Ministry of Health. Medical and health care benefits [Internet]. [cited 2012 March 28].  Available from: http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/msp/infoben/benefits.html
  2. World Health Organization. Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion. First International Conference on Health Promotion; November 21, 1986. Ottawa: WHO; 1986. p.1-4.

 

 

Why your smile matters. (Health Promotion)

Posted on by
Reply

Figure 1. This is the table clinic my group and I made.

At our externship sites in term 1, my group and I had  our first exposure to the mental illness population. It was apparent that both Pioneer and Lina’s place had immense need for oral care. Upon completion of the situation analysis, review of the literature and assessments we were able to piece the puzzle together. One of the most predominating factors would be the lack of self-esteem and lack of motivation present in this special needs population. (1) As a result, our group decided to promote oral self care behaviour that tailors to the resident’s motivational and self-esteem. As these homes are transitional homes, we promoted the relevancy of taking care of their oral health to the advancement of the next stage of their lives. We talked about how research having disease free mouth was related to more smiling and more smiling was related to higher self-esteem.(2,3) Not only did we promote oral self care practices using psycho-social factors, we talked about overall well-being. As a result of our table clinic the residents were engaged and asked a lot of questions and some of them express that they did not know about a lot of the knowledge that we shared with them.

Please see the attachment for our pamphlet that accompanied the table clinic.pioneerpamph

 

Reference

  1. Griffiths J et al. Oral health care for people with mental health problems: guidelines and recommendations. Report of BSDH Working Group. British Society for Disability and Oral Health. January 2000.
  2. Patel RR, Richards S and Inglehart MR. Periodontal Health, Quality of Life, and Smiling Patterns – An Exploration. J Periodontol. 2008;79:224-31.
  3. McKeown L. Social relations and breath odour. Int J Dent Hyg. 2003;3:213-7.

Teaming up with other health professionals!

Posted on by
1

As a health care professional, one should provide care that is high-quality and client centered. To achieve this, interprofessional collaboration is a must. (1)  I was able demonstrate this with my client, Mr. F, that had schizophrenia, artificial heart valves, and SLE. Firstly, for the dental hygiene care be delivered, I had to work with Mr.F and the facility to schedule an appointment that that fit best for all of us. I also had to collaborate with the on site nurse and Mr. F’s physician. There was a need for pre-medication of Clindamycin prior to dental hygiene treatment due to Mr. F’s artificial heart valve. The nurse then phoned Mr.F’s physician and had the order in for 600mg of Clindamycin. Also, since Mr. F was on warfarin, I asked the nurse about his INR levels. The nurse did not know and we had to contact the physician again. Subsequently, Mr. F had to be taken off the blood thinner 48 hours prior to treatment. With the collaboration with the client, facility, the nurse, and GP I was able to deliver dental hygiene care that was quality assured.

Reference

1. Zwarenstein M, Goldman J, Reeves S. Interprofessional collaboration: effects of practice-based interventions on professional practice and healthcare outcomes. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2009;(3):CD000072.

Community externship at Pioneer ( Clinical Therapy)

Posted on by
Reply

During term 1, I had the opportunity to experience what it was like for a dental hygienist to work in a community setting. More specifically, our group was allocated to the mental illness population. For the special needs population, there appears to be more complications with their systemic health, mental health, psychosocial health, and drug interactions. Thus, it important as a dental hygienist to record a detailed and in depth assessment. One of my client had schizophrenia, artificial heart valves, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and had penicillin allergy. Moreover, he was on a whole list of medications. As a primary care giver, it was my responsibility to ensure the side-effects of the drugs, possible contraindications, and also see if pre-medication is necessary prior to treatment. Through the use research, critical thinking, and communication and collaboration with the on site nurse, some adjustments were made to his medications prior to treatment. My client’s warfarin had to be taken off 48 hours prior to treatment and 600mg of Clindamycin had to be ingested one hour prior. Ultimately, clinical therapy was demonstrated by identifying clients at risk for medical emergencies and I used appropriate strategies to minimize such risks.