Oral Health

There is only a small amount of literature providing quality evidence based on the use of a successful oral health assessment tool for people with dementia (JBI, 2004). There is no published evidence to this date that has directly linked the use of the assessment tool and the standard of oral hygiene and care given within residential aged care facilities (JBI, 2004). For successful assessment of the residents with dementia the assessment should be undertaken by trained staff and on admission the assessment should also involve a dentist (JBI, 2004). Assessment should be done on a regular basis, at least every 8 weeks (JBI, 2004).

As the number of older Americans continue to rise, along with dental practitioners who are entering retirement, it would benefit this under-served population for the dental profession to develop new models of mid- level care. To expand training as well as additional licensing for dental hygienists, along with more training for other health care professionals would be a great beginning towards improved access to care (Overview of oral health,

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

At the end of their service people were much aware of the oral health. They now know the importance of taking care of their oral health is very important to them. They can prevent getting cavities by brushing, flossing and taking sufficient amount of fluoride to reduce dental caries and other health diseases. They knew what was excepted of them at the dental office, and what to ask their

For many seniors, the days of George Washington and wooden teeth did not seem like such a far-fetched concept. In fact, dentures and old age were virtually synonymous. Over the last few decades, the number of seniors who do not need to go down the path of tooth loss, dentures, and oral health misery has increased.

Dental insurance coverage is a key determinant on whether to seek care or not. The exclusion of our mouths from the rest of our body parts and not receiving the care it requires is quite impossible to rationalize (McClymont, 2015). Dental care is essential in the maintenance of good oral health and in the identification of symptoms of systemic conditions that most likely are manifested through the mouth. As striking and conspicuous as it may sound, Canada has indeed a type of health care system wherein mouth is excepted as a part of the body. As a matter of fact, our lips, tongues, and throats are securely covered while our teeth and gums are left out from the privilege. The most common infectious disease in the world are dental diseases, and the fact that many health issues can be first diagnosed through the oral cavity validates its importance and co-relevance to the rest of our body. Studies have linked poor oral health such as severity of gum infection to AIDS, first stages of osteoporosis, reveal nutritional deficiencies, immune disorders, cancer, and so on and so forth. Xerostomia or dry mouth for an instance is often a symptom of undetected diabetes. Diabetic patients have higher risks of gum infection caused by increased blood sugar, thickening of blood vessels resulting to hindered healing process that is why they are obligated to undergo pre-medication as a form

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

Oral health care is an integral part of the US healthcare system. In 2012, Sen. Bernie Sanders introduced “The Comprehensive Dental Reform Act”, which aimed on expanding dental coverage, accessible oral health care centers, increase in dental workforce, enhanced dental education and encourage dental research. (Congress.gov). The ACA, aim to curb the national health spending, by facilitating the affordability to quality care through private and public health insurance. The purpose of this bill is to cut the healthcare costs and to reverse the “silent epidemic” of dental health status (surgeon gen). This dental bill with an integrated approach towards the preventive and comprehensive oral healthcare is estimated to provide coverage to almost 17.7 million adults. (ADA

The websites I used for my research were Center for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization. The World Health Organization defines Oral Health as “a state of being free from chronic mouth and facial pain, oral and throat cancer, oral sores, birth defects such as cleft lip and palate, periodontal (gum) disease, tooth decay and tooth loss, and other diseases and disorders that affect the oral cavity” (2015). It is necessary to brush our teeth twice a day for two minutes and floss daily. Since tooth decay has been one of the most common chronic disease among children in the United States, I found it very important to educate them that this is a preventable disease and what ways it can be

“The impact of unmet oral health care needs is magnified by the well-established connection between oral health and overall health” (Fineberg, H. 2011, p. ix). Oral health status is linked with general health, as evidenced by the association between poor oral health and chronic diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory disease. Poor oral hygiene can also lead to other health issues such as, oral facial pain and digestive problems. “The silent epidemic of oral diseases disproportionately affects disadvantaged communities,

The article “History Of Teeth” and the informational text “Where Are All The Dentists” by Kristian Lewis, talks about how access to good dental care is important. One example to show people need access to good dental care is George Washington, he had fake teeth. The article states “George Washington had only one tooth left by time he became president-a fact that bothered him greatly” (Lewis 13). This shows why people need access to good dental care because, George Washington disliked that fact that he was missing so many teeth, if someone is missing that many teeth then, their gums would hurt as well as it would be hard to eat. Another example is kids often get cavities that are untreated. The informational text states “What's more, one in

health. This grant funded endeavor has contracted with dental hygienists to volunteer their time and provide training to seniors through a template that was designed by OHA. Andie Kyros, the program coordinator, said that their goal was “To provide a gold standard of education

As an undergraduate student, I did not want to lose the training I had gained from my first dentist I shadowed. Thus, I volunteered to work as a student dental assistant and observed various dental procedures. The more time I spent shadowing Dr. Chun, the more my fondness for dentistry grew because I loved watching procedures such as a tooth restoration and tooth extraction. I loved being in the office and witnessing Dr. Chun alleviated the pain of her patients. Her desire went beyond fixing the oral problem but also she educated her patients on preventative measure. Dr. Chun taught me the importance of oral health, and how important it was to educate others on preventative measures. In the

A 1991 study by Hoad‐Reddick[h] showed that simple questionnaires carried out by non-dental professionals (e.g. regular care-home staff) could highlight dental care needs. If regular dental check-ups were carried out in these institutions, or if staff looked into the oral health needs of the elderly people in these institutions, the need for preventative measures and treatment could be highlighted much sooner.

Maintaining good oral health is essential to maintaining good overall health. Oral hygiene is the practice of keeping the mouth and teeth clean to prevent dental problems, most commonly, dental cavities, gingivitis, periodontal disease, and tooth loss. Preventing these dental diseases are