Community

At state, local, or national levels, a hygienist must increase and facilitate access to oral health care and assess, plan, implement, and evaluate programs that benefit either general or specific populations.

CM. 1 Assess the oral health needs and services of the community to determine action plans
and availability of resources to meet the health care needs.

Community Program Plan

For a group community project, my group decided to provide a presentation for caregivers who worked for Arc of the Ozarks in Joplin, MO. This organization was developed to provide comprehensive support, resources, and assistance to individuals with intellectual and/or physical disabilities. The goal of this program plan was to not only implement education, but also equip them with the knowledge and tools they may need in order to properly assist their clients with oral care needs. Proper oral hygiene and brushing habits must be maintained daily in order to achieve health. Our goal was to educate these caregivers on daily interventions they could take to reduce the risk of periodontal disease and tooth loss. By instructing these individuals on proper brushing techniques and tactics, proper documentation of abnormalities located in or near the oral cavity, and diet adjustments, our hope is that this intervention may prevent oral cancers and disease among these specific patient populations.

Community Program Plan Presentation

CM.3 Provide community oral health services in a variety of settings.

Community rotations incorporated essential elements of the dental hygiene profession, such as oral cancer screening, oral health assessment, and oral hygiene instruction among a variety of different settings, including hospitals and schools. I traveled to multiple elementary schools in the cities surrounding Joplin to apply sealants when required and provide oral hygiene instructions in order to reduce the risk of childhood caries. Traveling to these areas allowed us, even as students, to increase access to care for these children and patients in the Freeman Hospital.