Essay On Oral Health

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

Hundreds of years ago, the dental profession and the medical profession was perceived as two separate entities, however, this bifurcated health system has created an epidemic in oral disease with our aging population (Nagro, 2016). Dentistry should be more closely integrated with medicine and the health care system, however, organized dentistry has fought to stay a monopoly. They have protested regarding dental personnel being independent, even in the advancement of serving more rural areas, just as they repelled being part of Medicare. Finally, there are a few states that have alternative choices for a dental hygienist to travel to people who can’t get to a traditional dental office. Some of these states include Minnesota, Colorado, Oregon,

In the course of my time volunteering at the UCSD Student-Run Free Dental Clinics, I came to understand how poverty, language barriers, and a lack of knowledge about the importance of dental care can lead to readily preventable and treatable dental problems. These dental problems can lead to a cascade of issues, preventing an individual’s progress. As a clinic volunteer inside the school’s dental clinic, I noticed young students, with poor dental care, have constant pain that affected their studies and attitude. I recall a Hispanic young boy telling me he was sharing a toothbrush with his family. I hand over multiple toothbrushes and, using Spanish cards, educate him on oral hygiene. With each treatment visit, he was eager to tell the dentist

Health care has been an issue for the United States of America for multiple years. Dental care, a topic that does not get much attention because people believe it is trivial, plays a major part in people’s lives, particularly children. Gerard van Honthorst’s The Tooth Puller shows a dentist pulling a patient’s tooth with five observers watching. Van Honthorst shows how in awe or scared people are of the dentist. There is a negative outlook on dentists and dental care: people are afraid of the dentist giving them their negative connotation, while dental care only causes pain in many people eyes. There is a problem in the health care system and improvement in the system is needed because health care is a right for every citizen, especially dental care. The United States of America’s government should allow dental therapist to conduct the procedure that normal dentist conduct for free for children under the age of twelve. The government should fund the teaching, training, and employment of dental therapists to care for underserved people.

Over 130 million Americans do not have dental insurance. On top of that, almost a million emergency room visits last year resulted from preventable oral conditions. Many Americans today are unaware of how the condition of their dentition affects their overall health. Socioeconomic limitations, the lack of dental education in parents, eating habits, and simply the availability of dentists plays a key role in the state of children’s oral health; implementing a universal dental care program will help lower the barriers that many people face when it comes to receiving the dental care they need. The program will target high-risk individuals who are prone to dental caries and provide them with standard

Studies on oral health range from the impact of dental health insurance to the efficiency of state or federal programs and services. More recently, studies have also highlight the role of less advantageous populations. In the study by Edelstein, Hirsch, Frosh, & Kumar (2015), a Medicaid population is examined on its available interventions in an effort to reduce childhood dental carries. The researchers used systems model analysis of the Medicaid population in New York in order to assess the cost savings and disease reduction capacity of nine interventions, which include the following: fluoride varnish application, water fluoridation, fluoride toothpaste, fluoride varnish, medical screening, motivational interviewing, secondary prevention,

A Report of the Surgeon General stated that minority and low-income children in the United States experience poorer oral health and poorer access to dental health care services than do their majority and higher-income peers (Oral Health in America, 2000). Two major factors that determine access to dental care are the limited supply of both dentists and public financing for underserved populations (Mertz, 2002). ). Dental disease like tooth decay not only affects children’s overall health; it has other ramifications, including children’s hours lost from school, deteriorating school performance and behavior, and in extreme cases, serious disability and even death.

In America, the number of retiring dentists exceeds the number of graduating dentists annually (Friedman & Mathu-Muju, 2014). Deficits related to this statistic leave low income families, especially children, lacking the dental care and education necessary to maintain a healthy dentition throughout their lifetime. Out of the 43 million children enrolled in Medicaid only 12-49% receives any type of dental care; this is partially related to the fact that only 20% of dentists accept Medicaid patients (Friedman & Mathu-Muju, 2014). Also, for those living in rural areas a trip to the dentist can become a chore. Here in Kansas 84% of our population live in a dental desert, meaning they have no access to dental care, nationally 49 million Americans face this problem (PBS Source). Current dental models have divided the population into two groups, those who can afford preventative and restorative care, and those who cannot. Training dental therapists to

Further, organized dentistry can develop several strategies to increase access to dental care and delivery of quality dental health services that are substantial for children with special dental needs. For example, strategies to increase the number of providers with appropriate training to treat CSHCN. Further, to increase providers' participation in the Medicaid program and improving their knowledge, empathy for and training to accommodate in care of children with special needs which is essential in improving access to dental care for this population. Further, it is important to integrate a training of dental students (both primary and comprehensive preventive and oral health care) who graduate from dental or dental hygiene schools to be competent in assessing treatment needs. Lastly, dental students must learn how to care for children with special needs that follow the guidelines of American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (Al Agili et al., 2004). In conclusion, health insurance coverage showed positive impact on access and utilization of health care for CSHCN. Health insurance should not be viewed as a solution in itself, but instead as one element of a comprehensive strategy to provide financial safety for CSHCN and their

The DHAT will provide dental care to the community similar to a physician’s assistant in the field of medicine (Shoffstall-Cone, 2013). The DHAT program in Alaska requires that each student complete 2 years of post high school education in dental disease prevention and basic dental treatment skills (Shoffstall-Cone, 2013). Once licensed, DHAT are allowed to do evaluations, fluoride treatments, cavity excavations, fillings, and simple extractions (Murat, 2013). These routine works, previously done only by dentists along with being taught these skills in just to years is what adds to the controversy of the DHA program (Shoffstall-Cone, 2013). In Minnesota, dental therapists must have a baccalaureate degree in addition to required college coursework (Blue et al., 2015). As Muret claims, the model created in Alaska could be adapted anywhere as witnessed when dental therapists were authorized to “provide preventive and basic restorative care” in Minnesota in 2011 and Maine in 2014 (Expanding Dental Access in Massachusetts,

Although students were identified and informed of the dental care they needed, just 29% of students in 2003 were willing to receive sealants. In 2004, just 26% of the students were willing to receive sealants resulting in 52% of students having tooth decay. Over the six-year period, the dental hygienists and nurses of Boston schools applied sealant and gave them 20 to 25 minutes of oral

Dental Hygiene is very important to me and has been since I was a child, this has influenced my desire of becoming a pediatric dentist. In a personal interview i conducted with Dr.Bills she informed me of this, “Dental Hygiene is emphasized by all dentists, we want our patients to have elegant white teeth and pleasant breath”(Bills). I would like to teach children the importance of keeping their teeth brushed so that they will have a beautiful smile and healthy teeth. Pediatric Dentistry is a superb fit for me because I care about dental health and I want children to know the importance as well. It is never too early for children to learn how important dental hygiene is.

The other dominant problem in this area was dental care. The school nurse participant suggesting the simpler dental care process to allow children immediate access to dentists so as to prevent sending them to the emergency department because of tooth abscess. Other identified common health issues across both survey responses and interview data were: lack of collaboration and cooperation within the agencies in the community, lack of adequate transportation resources, and a need for more educational and health awareness programs. In addition there

Although considered preventable, 53.6% of Medicaid eligible kindergarteners studied in California had a history of dental caries and 27.8 % had decay present at the time of the screening (Dental Health Foundation, 2006). Teaching young children effective oral hygiene techniques is the most effective way to protect the child’s teeth and help them to develop a daily oral wellness routine ("Dental Health," 2015). By focusing on those most in need, Medicaid eligible preschool aged children, teaching and reinforcing effective oral hygiene strategies early in life will foster a lifelong habit of oral health wellness (Gardner, Lally, & Wardle, 2012).

Although many Americans have good oral hygiene due to fluoride and making everyday good decisions, others do not have any access at all to oral health care. Over the years, dentists have been trying to demonstrate the importance of oral care. (“Access to Dental Care”) From commercials to campaigns, dentists will continue to demonstrate to their patients as well as to the people who don't have insurance the importance of oral health care. They will teach them preventative care and some techniques on how to prevent from getting any diseases.