Summary of Instructional Problem
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2013) presents some grim statistics regarding preventative chronic diseases related to oral hygiene in teens and young adults. Fifty-nine percent of 12 to 19 year olds have tooth decay. Four times more adolescents suffer from tooth decay than asthma. Even more so troublesome are the facts that “less than 1 of 3 children enrolled in Medicaid received at least one preventive dental service in a recent year” and “many states provide only emergency dental services to Medicaid-eligible adults.” Achieving proper hygiene skills such as hand washing, bathing, washing laundry, along with maintaining proper oral health are important life skills for anyone.
I work with students with special needs in a transition program focusing on life skills and vocational training. Our students have displayed a lack of understanding and skills in the area of personal hygiene and grooming. These skills are important for their future vocational and social settings. Specific areas to focus on would be: oral hygiene, skin care, hair care, nail care, body odor management/prevention, and appropriate/clean clothing. Achieving these skills is critical for each student’s independence and health.
Current Conditions and Desired Conditions
Current Conditions
Students lack many hygiene and grooming skills. Many seem to have a basic idea of how to do certain tasks but lack specific steps, attention to details, or reasoning behind why certain skills are important. For example, when students were observed brushing their teeth, they either missed portions of their mouth or did not spend adequate time on the task to ensure each tooth was properly maintained. Students are able to follow checkli...
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...an be independent based on physical abilities still rely on their parents or guardians to perform certain tasks including laundry, washing hair, or identifying a need for cleanliness. The desired state has students identifying their own hygiene needs throughout the day, maintaining proper levels in all sub-skills, improved health in response to proper hygiene, following procedures of hygiene and self-care skills accurately and maintaining a proper appearance from head to toe consistently on a daily basis. Achieving mastery of these skills will benefit students’ health, social life, vocational situations, independence and general well-being.
References
Preventing Dental Caries with Community Programs. (2013, July 10). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved April 30, 2014, from http://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/publications/factsheets/dental_caries.htm
When you are practicing good dental hygiene, you will surely be in a much better oral health. The problem is that a lot of us neglect the proper taking care of our teeth and gum. This is when most oral diseases start and also the reason why the dental health category is a multi-million, if not a multi-billion, dollar industry.
Sams, Lattice D.,et al. “Adoption And Implementation Of Policies To Support Preventive Dentistry Initiatives For Physicians: A National Survey Of Medicaid Programs.” American Journal Of Public Health 103.8 (2013): e83-e90. Business Source Premier. Web. 30 January 2014.
As I started my new journey of becoming a dental hygienist, I came into the program with no background of dental. I came into this program with an open mind and willing to embrace new concepts as well as develop new skills. During my time at the Canadian Academy of Dental Hygiene (CADH), I learned that as a dental hygienist that I am committed to promoting and helping each individual achieve their optimal oral health goals. In support of my client’s goals, I may assume any or all of the roles included in the dental hygiene scope of practice. My goal throughout this program was to help my clients achieve their optimal oral health goals through education, health promotion and providing preventive and clinical therapy.
The best description of a dental hygienist is a professional whose main job is to teach their patients necessary oral hygiene skills and provide great dental care. They perform various tasks around a dentist’s office such as applying fluoride treatments, removing plaque and stains, taking x-rays, removing sutures, placing temporary fillings, and evaluating the patient’s overall health (“Dental Hygienist” Coin Career). Dental hygienists do not just work in a dental office, but they also can work at schools, nursing homes, health clinics, and many other dental settings. Close contact is necessary when doing this job. Working with people is an everyday thing in this profession, so one must be able to communicate and get along with their clients very well. Having certain traits such as excellent hand-eye coordination and great motor skills are very important to posses since dental hygienists work on their patients mouths (Porterfield 4). Communication is vital since dental hygienists are constantly teaching patients how to hav...
Bryant, D. P., Smith, D. D., & Bryant, B. R. (2008). Teaching Students with Special Needs in
Imagine having to spend half your fortune on correcting your teeth.”Tooth decay was a perennial national problem that meant a mouthful of silver for patients, and for dentists a pocketful of gold.” (Wallis, 17) If patients don’t take care of their teeth, many issues can start to appear later in their life. Some patients are not knowledgeable of the correct procedures toward keeping a healthy smile. In order to keep a healthy smile patients must be better informed about the knowledge to achieve that success and also maintain.
I was part of a placement simulation group which went to the multi-skills laboratory to practice delivering and receiving oral hygiene. I was assigned a colleague to brush his teeth ...
Wiener, R. Constance, Richard J. Crout, and Michael A. Wiener. "Toothpaste use by children, oral
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.
needs of a child with a disability, including instruction conducted in the classroom, in the home, in
Children should be taught how to brush their teeth and be encouraged to have good dental hygiene to prevent cavities and any other dental problems. They should be taught about good hygiene such as hand washing to prevent germs.
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
Another preventive way to help children build stronger teeth is water fluoridation prevents 2/3rd of children from them not getting cavities. (Evans par. 6) Fluoridation benefits children and let alone fifty percent of the dental bills were cut in price. (Evans par.6) The future is looking bright for the children getting better dental and oral health services. Approximately 8.7 million children are expected to gain some form of dental benefits by 2018. (Evans par.8) Regular preventive dental care, such as cleaning and regularly brushing and flossing, improve the overall health and brightens up your life. (Wallace par.1) Keeping up on the regular cleaning at the dental office, which is once every six months, helps out tremendously but some people need more then twice a year. (Payne par.5)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2000) Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General .Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, 2000.
Not only does good oral health benefit a person socially but it also helps them economically. Following proper oral care prevents the need for treatment of dental problems such as fillings, tooth extractions, etc. These oral problems can result in treatments with costly bills. But by comparison, the cost of performing basic oral hygiene and preventive teeth cleaning is relatively low (Oral-B).