As primary HCPs it is our role to see the client as a whole rather than solely on their oral health needs and findings.(1,2) In my fourth year of dental hygiene, I have now provided dental hygiene care over the past three years and I have grown as a primary health care provider and clinician.

I believe what helped me realize the importance of CCC, was the dental hygiene process of care model and the continuation of care from developing SMART goals.(1) The assessment portion of the DH appointment reveals past and present health conditions and societal factors that impact oral health. Collecting assessment information is crucial to developing a diagnostic statement and guides the planning and implementation of the care plan. A transition in my learning occurred when I realized a pattern of unmet SMART goals under my care. After identifying failure to develop client-centred SMART goals based on assessment findings, I began communicating with client. Individualized oral health care education and disease prevention competencies became a routine part of the creation and delivery of SMART goals to motivate my clients. For example, in my third year of dental hygiene I had a new client to the UBC DHDP who presented with periodontitis and hypertension. I advocated for my profession and for him through identifying the bi-directional relationship between his cardiovascular health and periodontal disease. The client was interested in learning more about the relationship between these diseases and how he and I can work together to prevent exacerbating either condition. At his re-evaluation appointment, the client achieved his SMART goal and I noticed an improvement in his oral health and value under my care.

References

1. CDHA, Lavigne SE. Your mouth — portal to your body.Probe. 2004;38(3):114-34.
2. Morris JE, Kanji Z. Exploring how the quality of the client-dental hygienist relationship affects client compliance. Can J Dent Hyg. 2016;50(1):15-22.