What makes dental care not a part of health care? What makes dental care “medically unnecessary”? Why is dental care not a publicly funded service? What impact does the lack of access to dental care have on our community and on patients? These are question we ask ourselves as a way to access the right information that can help us come to a conclusion on whether dental care should be a part of the OHIP plan. Many individuals who do not receive dental care are vulnerable to oral diseases and oral diseases cause their victims problems that affect their quality of life (Sheiham, 2005). For example, toothaches are seen as a simple issue and are incapable of remodeling a person's life. Nonetheless, that is not true because toothaches can alter an …show more content…
Also, it can be hard to socialize while going through pain and might in some cases prevent work, like having a student miss a day of school because they were in excruciating pain (Sheiham, 2005). Therefore, if someone was going through poverty, it would make it even harder for them to work if they had oral pain. Toothaches are a simple example of how dental care is associated with the quality of life and overall health and wellbeing (Sheiham, 2005), Which is why we need dental …show more content…
However, I was lucky enough to be in a family that could afford dental care, but what would happen to children in low-income families that could not afford dental care? Children in low-income families have poorer oral health compared to children that come from higher income families (Locker, 2007). However, it is not just children of poor income families that are vulnerable to oral diseases and poor oral health. Low-income families, individuals of low socioeconomic status, employees who lack government income support, and civilian that are living in poverty are all vulnerable to oral disease (Locker,
I am fortunate that my experiences have made me aware of these things so that when I do return to these communities as a dentist, I can not only better serve my patients as a provider, but I can also be a leading advocate for the change that is so desperately needed by the individuals in these communities. As I continue along my career path in dentistry, I intend to keep volunteering in dental clinics in underserved communities as well as participating in formal organizations such as Saving Smiles to more effectively address these issues as well as enhance my understanding of the dental field. Perhaps while I serve in these communities, I can inspire and support future health professionals that will continue to advance the incredible changes that our health fields are currently
Children with disabilities or other health impairments require assistance of adults to live to their fullest potential. Although childhood caries is not a typical disease when considering disabling chronic illnesses, it is becoming a global health crisis that affects children in many ways. According to the United States Surgeon General’s report from the US Department of Health and Human Services (2000), dental caries is stated to be the “most common chronic childhood disease of children aged 5 to 17 years and is five times more common than asthma and seven times more common than hay fever.” Childhood caries can severely affect a child’s quality of life in the areas of overall development, family relationships, community relationships, and educational challenges; the collaboration of parents and teachers is essential in treating and preventing childhood caries, not only in the United States, but also around the world.
The economy plays an important factor of what people want to spend their money on. Dental/ oral health care is important to most people in today’s today world. Since the dental/ oral health industry is very big there are many trends that are arising such as the cost of dental care increase or decreasing, market of the industry and lastly global dental industry.
Over time as individuals age and are faced with access to care issues they may begin to neglect their oral health. As time passes between dental hygiene cleanings or dentist visits the presence of oral disease may begin to increase.
I decided to do my research report on dentistry because it is a perfect blend of science and art. It is a science in that you must fully comprehend on the different types of diagnostic and procedures you are doing. It is an art in that you are constantly working with your hands to create a beautiful smile. The impact you make on helping a person achieve an impeccable smile is not one to compare with materialistic things like money or cars. People often mistake dentist as only doing practices when in fact they could do more, like research. I was fortunate enough to have been given the opportunity to interview Dr. Sarah Pham, DDS, a close family friend who practices dentistry in her own private office in Los Angeles, California. Dr. Pham was
o Please describe a time when you performed a thorough head, neck and oral exam and the findings had a significant impact on how you proceeded with the dental hygiene process of care. Annette was performing her usual head, neck, and oral exam on a patient and found an enlarged thyroid. She recommended to the patient that she go see her primary care physician to get a better diagnosis. The patient went to her primary care physician and was told there was probably nothing. Later, the patient returned to the dental office and saw Annette and told her what the physician said.
In the Dental Hygiene field, many challenges come about every day and during different situations. Every day there are new challenges and unusual situations that occur in the dental field, but one challenge that continues to come about and has been a big dispute over the years is the ability to provide beneficial information about oral health care for the underprivileged. For the individuals that are not fortunate enough to pay to have services done in the dental office, lack the knowledge of how important good oral health care is. They do not receive the one on one conversations explaining the significance of taking care of your teeth and gums that the patients who can afford to make appointments and receive essential services do. That
(1) LOW INCOME AND LACK OF INSURANCE: A number of studies have linked poor oral health with low socioeconomic status. Affordability is identified as major challenge in accessing dental care. “For instance, 17.3 per cent of the whole population (i.e., approximately
Dental Hygienist: Have you been flossing? If not, the Dental Hygienist will know. A Dental Hygienist examines and makes sure that you have been flossing, brushing, and much more on your teeth. You really should make sure that you schedule cleanings every couple months or so. Your teeth are a big part of your health, and if you don’t take care of them, you will eventually end up with fake teeth, or the proper name would be Dentures.
Background: According to Canadian Health Measures Survey on latest oral health, approximately 62% of Canadian had private dental insurance. About 50% of the respondents from the lower income class do not have any dental insurance while 78% of the respondents with higher income section had private dental insurance coverage. Half of low-income individuals without dental insurance will pay for dental care expenses by themselves for them and their families. Additionally, 53% of respondents between the age of 60 and 79 were also not covered by any dental insurance. This indicates, that most Canadians will get private dental insurance when they are capable to afford it (i.e. high income). Whereas, half of low income and more than half seniors lack any dental insurance to receive dental care (1).
Dental hygiene is a dynamic and challenging career that offers team work, personal growth, and extraordinary benefits, and it is the perfect career for me. As a health care professional, the dental hygienist is an important member of the dental team providing patient care. Good qualities for a dental hygienist are compassion and enjoying talking to people which are two qualities that fit my personality. I love the thought of knowing I made a positive impact in a person's health. Becoming a dental hygienist professionally requires you to obtain an associate degree in dental hygiene. They affect the average American by educating them about dental care. A dentist helps people with their dental health, which can greatly impact a person’s day-to-day life.
The statistics mentioned above are just a few of the many facts that point toward the need for quality dental care. Another factor that points toward the necessity of easily accessible dental care is the fact that the number of dental related emergency room visits in the United States rose from 1.1 million in 2000 to 2.1 million in 2010 (Wall and Nasseh). Many of these visits result in minimal care, as emergency rooms are not able, nor prepared to handle dental related issues. Additionally, these dental related visits put unnecessary stress on emergency rooms and can delay care of other more seriously injured patients. The patients with dental emergencies still need to see a dentist, but barriers to care prevent some of them from accessing the care they need from a dental office or clinic. About 181 million Americans will not visit a dentist this year (Gift, Reisine, and Larach). And whether due to
Many of the chronic diseases that exist in society today develop because children in the United States are not properly educated on the importance of dental hygiene. Educating the younger generation about dental hygiene and dental care allows them to live healthier lives. This creates intellectual decisions concerning their overall health, and will allow future generations to do the same. Numerous researchers and dentists have observed that this topic is a major issue emerging in not only pediatric dentistry but also in general dentistry. According to Paul Griffin Information Knowledge System Management, Dental decay is the most prevalent chronic disease among both children and adults in the United States. Griffin goes into further detail about dental hygiene when discussing the recent national data findings that suggest that several disparities in dental care exist due to the lack of resources concerning dental care. Since there is a lack of dental care this in effect causes a lack of dental education among the younger generation which leads to the majority of chronic diseases that are prominent in the United States today. The government’s role in United States is tremendous in both economic and social terms. If the government decides to inform its citizens on the importance of hygiene especially dental hygiene, this will not only causes ailments rates to decrease, but will also allow economic prosperity for various reasons. For these vital reasons, it is crucial to have a non-profit website funded both by the government and the ADA (American Dental Association) that would primarily educate children on dental care and allow them to make education decisions concerning their health and lifestyles based on the information they have...
"Oral Health Topics." American Dental Association. American Dental Association, 2014. Web. 7 Feb. 2014. .
Oral health is an essential component of general health. Recognizing this a fact, in the last twenty years, there has been an increase in the number of dental colleges, dental personnel, and oral health care products at multilevel in Indian markets which has all lead to an increase in awareness, and demand for oral health care. However, there has been a growing concern with a rise in prevalence of oral diseases. Therefore, this review of literature was done, with an objective to improve our knowledge on the prevalence of oral diseases, existing modes, positive and negative aspects of oral health care del...