A primary care provider is typically the first point of contact for clients and their health care needs. Primary health services include prevention and treatment of disease, basic and emergency services, referrals to specialist care, primary mental health care, palliative and end-of-life care, health promotion, healthy child development, primary maternity care, and rehabilitation services.1,2 While many typically assume registered dental hygienists (RDHs) only care about teeth, the realistic responsibilities of a RDH encompass the client’s oral and overall health, inclusive of their social determinants of health.3
Dental hygienists are educated, trained, and well-situated within the health care system to recognize, diagnose, and provide periodontal therapy for clients with periodontal disease and continually provide education on disease prevention.2,4 With individualized client recall appointments, RDHs are able to continually build and maintain rapport with their clients, and therefore, are able to determine changes to the client’s social determinants of health, which may affect and impact their daily life.
Dental hygienists fulfill the definition of a primary care provider as they are the client’s first point of access to the health care system, have an ongoing responsibility for the client, and take responsibility for the overall coordination of care for client referrals and resources.2 Additionally, RDHs are able to integrate oral health with primary care using evidence-based knowledge.4-6
References:
- Health Canada [Online]. Health Canada; 2012 [cited 2018 Nov 30]. Available from: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hcs-sss/prim/about-apropos-eng.php#a1
- Odrich J. The dental hygienist: a primary care provider. J Pub Health Dent. 1985;45(2):64-9.
- Public Health Agency of Canada [Online]. Public Health Agency of Canada; 2011 [cited 2018 Nov 30]. Available from: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/ph-sp/determinants/#determinants
- Monajem S. Integration of oral health into primary health care: the role of dental hygienists and the WHO stewardship. Int J Dent Hygiene. 2006;4:47-51
- Cobban SJ. Evidence-based practice and the professionalization of dental hygiene. Int J Dent Hygiene. 2004 Jun 10;2:152-60.
- Cobban SJ. A dialectical analysis of an art of dental hygiene practice. Int J Dent Hygiene. 2009 Mar 17;7:217-25.