Ng, M. W., & Fida, Z. (2016).

Dental hygienist led chronic disease management system to

control early childhood caries. Dimensions of Dental Hygiene, 16, 20-33.

This article discusses a strategy in which early childhood caries can be managed with the

use of dental hygienists as the leaders of the front. The authors believe that caries are currently

approached as “an acute surgical problem that requires restoration and repair.” Restorative work

repairs the current caries but does not provide a solution for future decay. The article then goes

on to discuss how a caries risk assessment should be addressed at each visit, followed by setting

goals during communication with the patient and family, caries charting, remineralization

strategies, restorative needs, and finally appropriate recall intervals. With this chronic disease

management strategy, the authors believe that early childhood caries can be reduced. The caries

risk assessment is important in detecting where problems may be, and identifying what needs to

be addressed. Dental hygienists are important in this strategy because they are considered to be

the “experts of preventative dentistry.”

I personally found this article interesting, informative, and helpful. It is nice to have a

specific layout of the caries prevention plan indentified, such as the caries risk assessment on p.

24. I do agree that steps should be taken one at a time and it is important to take all of these

steps, with each patient, at each visit. I also believe it is important to find some way that works at

preventing decay rather than constant restoration. Also, it is important to explain why these

caries occur in the first place. However, not all parents or patients are going to be as receptive to

suggestions as those discussed in the article. For some, the information that you are telling him

or her goes in one ear and out the other, so I believe it is also important to adjust the plan to what

is going to work for each patient and parent.

Myers-Wright, N., & Lamster, I. B. (2016). A new practice approach for oral health

professionals. Dimensions of Dental Hygiene, 16, 43-51.

This article discusses the importance of integrating overall health with dental health.

Currently, many people and insurances look at dental health and oral health as two separate

things. Primary care facilities need to encourage seeing your dentist for oral health just as many

diseases can be diagnosed earlier while getting an oral health care screening. The American

population has a high rate of hypertension, diabetes, obesity-which also contributes to high

cholesterol, and smoking addiction. Also, there are many members of the population carrying

viral infections such as HIV, HCV, and HPV. If each of these issues are identified early, it can

greatly improve overall health. Issues do arise with low patient education and understanding,

also known as health literacy, so time must be taken to ensure the patient understands their

individual needs.

I do agree with this article that it is important to treat the entire patient not just their

dental needs when they step into a dental practice. Many patients may not go to a doctor or

dentist unless something is “wrong” so any time they step into a health care facility it is

important to evaluate all of their health care needs. However, I also believe that the problem with

many patients that have these issues is that first- many people do not know they have these

health issues and second- they do not understand what they are or how to treat them. Yes, as an

individual with an education in health care I understand why high blood pressure is bad or why

you need to take care of your blood sugar levels. Many individuals think, “I am not in pain, it is

not a problem.” This is because many Americans do not have the education that health care

workers do and it is important to educate these individuals on a level that they understand.
Lloyd, M. E. (2016). Improving outcomes for transplant patient’s contribution of a dental

hygienist. Dimensions of Dental Hygiene, 16, 99-103.

Dental treatment for both cancer and transplant patients is difficult. The patients going

through radiation, chemotherapy, immunosuppressant treatments, have a lot on their plate but

advances in dental care have been occurring. For these patients, the important thing is to

eliminate or at least stabilize existing disease. Prevention would be ideal to reduce pain and

infection. An extremely important aspect of treatment for these types of patients is an integrated

health care team. When a dental hygienist is apart of the health care team to treat cancer and

transplant patients, a strong foundation can be placed with dental education to hopefully reduce

discomfort of the patient. With the research of GVHD, CMV, HSV, etc. patient care can be

improved for the oral health of the patient. Advances are continuing to occur.

This article did have some important points that I agreed with, however, a lot of the

article was about the author explaining her success in her career. I am glad that she found a

location in which a dental hygienist was needed and played an important role, but I would have

liked to hear more about successful health advances than how the health of others played into her

career. However, she did make some important points that I agreed with. The author of this

article stressed the importance of integrating oral health with overall patient health. This is an

important aspect because the mouth is part of the body; they are linked in care and needs. If the

patient is unable to eat due to painful ulcers of the tongue, the body will not be properly

nourished. Also, if the treatment the patient is receiving causes reduced saliva production, this

will affect the health of the oral cavity. Dental hygienists play an important part in educating the

patients on auxiliary aids, brushing habits, and oral care to best prevent oral problems.