GUM DISEASE: A MISUNDERSTOOD EPIDEMIC IN AGING AMERICA
Conclusion
As Americans are increasing their life expectancy, and more baby boomers are aging with their natural dentition, it is vital that policy makers and the public stop viewing oral health as a separate entity from health care and recognize that dental disease is preventable. Studies conclude that it is imperative to incorporate oral health into total health, therefore, improved oral health literacy, along with prevention, should be mandated (Jin, et al, 2016). Best practice guides regarding dental care need to be considered, especially in nursing facilities, as the culture explores a shift (Hearn, 2015). As to date, there is very little regulation of the oral health for residents in long-term care as the facility is only
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We must call attention to the value of incorporating oral health into overall health initiatives. Furthermore, lawmakers must be well-versed regarding the importance of oral health, so that legislated laws can include the oral cavity amongst comprehensive health care for our nation A national campaign, defining and promoting an urgent call to action, led by the Public Health Department, Center for Disease Control, as well as the dental profession, must provide educational information regarding the prevention of oral health. By using all aspects of social
GUM DISEASE: A MISUNDERSTOOD EPIDEMIC IN AGING AMERICA
and news media, the benefits of oral health must be the center of this campaign. These should include, but not limited to: 1. oral disease is preventable 2. prevention does not hurt 3. saves money in the long run 4. possibly reduce the risk of other systemic
Good oral health is important for a person's sense of well being and quality of life (Fiske, 2001). Inadequate oral hygiene can lead to pain, tooth loss, oral disease,
In Dr. Parson’s presentation, I learned that there are still many seniors with out dental insurance. This is sad because the population by 2030 is going to double and more will eventually need treatment done by a dentist. According to her presentation oral care is not a concern to the nursing home staff. Some families show up to brush their family members teeth. With the limited financial resources for dental care these patients have it is one of their barriers to getting treatment done if needed or even cleaning. Therefore, we as dental hygienist can help make a difference by going out to the community and offering dental care education to the nursing staff because they must first know how to take care of their oral health before taking care
While most of the patients I interacted with were seeking non-dental care, I met patients who were seeking care to health conditions that stem from their oral health such as oral abscesses, which our team was unable to treat except for prescribing antibiotics or painkillers. I encountered similar situations when I shadowed physicians in the emergency room of hospitals, observing a variety of craniofacial disorders originating from a preventable tooth decay. From these observations, I learned that patients often did not receive treatment that addressed the root of their problems: their oral health. As the result, I learned that many physicians saw the same patient repeatedly for problems that would otherwise be easily prevented through proper preventive dental care. Determining to address the unmet needs for accessible preventive dental care, I decided to pursue a career in dentistry so that I can provide a positive and meaningful impact to the underserved community on their oral health and ultimately their overall
Although there have been oral health care models, as well as, best practice concepts for oral health, there is still a host of barriers that prevent this problem from being minimalized. Factors including negative behaviors from both the staff and residents, dexterity, mobility, as well as a lack of dental supplies, often leave the residents or the health care personnel frustrated. Some of the factors that prevent dentists from caring for these residents is a lack of mobile equipment, lack of space, time away from their private practice, and low reimbursement rates (Dirks, 2016). The director of nursing, along with the administrator, must collaborate with dental personnel to change the culture and instill a higher value on oral health. On-site training and education must be included in oral care, along with infection control regulations. Most residents are not able to coordinate their own care and often rely on personnel at the facility for assistance. There needs to be a collaboration between dental personnel, facility staff, and the residents, to cultivate oral care as an integral part of health and wellness for each resident (Chaves,
Unfortunately Oral health is not something most people consider when asked about their health. Based on personal experience a toothache is one of the worst pains in the world and many don't really think about oral health as affecting their overall health until they are experiencing some of the negative effects. As a profession I want to work in the oral health field as a dentist or dental hygienist and strategie one would be something that would be important to implement in my career. One way I would use this strategy is to build on school health education. School health promotion focuses on education students from a young age on the important health related matters. Growing up in the small central american country of Belize this information was not available to children in schools, and after I moved here during middle school, I also do not recall learning about the importance of Oral health. Using my profession I would advocate for the implementation of programs and events in schools and local communities that provide children and their parents the necessary information to ensure that proper oral hygiene is being
The health promotion models being used to carry out this activity will be the Educational and Client Centred models. By using the Educational model, it allows information on good oral health to be provided and ensures knowledge and understanding. Client Centred model encourages self-empowerment, by providing appropriate resources to help make informed choices (Naidoo, J; Wills, J, 2009).
As a student who has participated in a dental program at USC and is pursuing a career in dentistry, I believe it’s important to know about the importance of good oral health care. Engaging in poor habits of brushing can easily lead to periodontal disease which has been linked to many chronic diseases such as Diabetes and Alzheimer’s. c. Thesis: By learning more about the toothbrush, you will have a better understanding of the importance of good dental hygiene and the dental culture. d. Preview of Main Points: I will first discuss how the toothbrush is a central part of maintain good dental hygiene and how it represents the dental culture as a whole. 2.
While many believe that dental care is relatively attainable for individuals across the United States, research proves otherwise. Especially for those thought to be the future of our nation: children. Often times, children that are most vulnerable and least likely to receive care are those who are in the direst need. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry reports that over 37% of children are not provided dental visits and 4.3 million children are living with severe unmet dental needs that can greatly affect development. Even more important, these rates greatly increase based on ethnicity, economic status, and location. This is not to say that all individuals ought to dedicate their lives to this cause, but rather that our population, especially parents, educate their children at an earlier age about disease preventative dental skills and that a heavier focus is put on alleviating this problem for minority communities.
Increasing access to health care has been a focus of concern for health policy for United States for many years. But tragically, oral care has failed to gather the focus that it requires. Often oral care is neglected as a result, a large population have a limited access to oral care especially children of lower income group.
Having good oral hygiene is something you are taught as an infant, and something you wish you did as a kid. Whether it’s to have a nice smile, or the thought of having to loose your teeth when you become mature. Starting with showing children the importance of brushing their teeth will minimize the risks of gaining Gingivitis.Those children are dependent of their parents and sometimes the parents can only spend so much depending on their household income. Families that are not financially stable do not have the same resources as other kids with families of higher income and that affects the type of insurance that covers their visits to the dentist. There are cases in which they do not have what it
Oral health care is the most prevalent unmet health need among children. Tooth decay accounts for the majority of missed school days for children. Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease of childhood; an estimated 50% to 80% of children will develop detectable dental caries by late adolescence. Poor oral health has a direct effect on a child's school performance. “One study documented a significant loss of school time due to poor oral health among females, Hispanic students, and those with lower income or no health insurance” (Berg & Coniglio, 2006). Effective strategies in the area of prevention and intervention are needed to strengthen efforts to improve young children’s quality of life. In recognizing the need for prevention and intervention strategies, it is even more crucial to identify and to focus on the barriers that impact the successful eradication of early childhood caries; thus, those barriers which impact the quality of life for young children.
*However, because there could be a link between heart health and oral health, it is important to take the steps to protect both.
When is the last time you thought about your teeth? If you're a senior citizen, it's more important than ever to properly care for your teeth, if you want to keep them. Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss; therefore, you must practice good oral hygiene and secure a dental health plan that suits your particular needs.
After I've completed my education in dental school, I plan to look for a job that suits my profession on my island. If I was given a chance, I would like to give back to my community by offering free dental checkups. I formulated this idea because every community needs proper oral hygiene. Proper oral hygiene is essential to people's health and well-being because it prevents them from having oral diseases such as gingivitis (the inflammation of the gums) and dental caries (tooth decay or cavities).
One of the main tasks of general dentistry is to encourage the prevention of oral diseases. Education is crucial and includes teaching patients about proper hygiene and regular