On Monday, November 28, 2016, Yanelys Ruiz and I were able to enjoy a wonderful experience when we did the Service Learning Project with 2nd grade class of 16 children at Charles R. Hadley Elementary School. Meanwhile, I was arriving at the school, I was getting excited because I would share all that I had learned as a dental hygiene student. Once I was into the class, I was eager to show to all those amazing kids what Yanelys and I prepared for them. Initially, I presented myself to the student and asked for two volunteers who can help me to hand out paper molar with their name printed. Those molar attached to their uniform helped to identify and call them by their name. Subsequently, I asked some questions to test their knowledge about dental hygiene. For instance, I ask them how many times a day and how long do they brush their teeth and I got surprised that the majority knew the right answer. In the same way, Yanelys was amazed when she asked about the parts of the tooth and a girl answered perfectly according to her age. While Yanelys and I continued the presentation, it was inevitable to feel the …show more content…
Subsequently, I taught the correct sequence to put the PPE. Every child had the opportunity to feel as a dental hygiene when they put on protective wear that my partner and I brought for them. Furthermore, we explained to them that before brush their teeth they should floss between teeth to clean them. To illustrate, Yanelys and I provided each student a model that simulate dirt between teeth made with egg box, clay, chia and wide plastic string. Therefore, we had the opportunity to demonstrate to the students how to floss while they were able to show back what they had learned. They also had the opportunity to take that example to home and showed their parents what they had learned in our
A dental hygienist is a very important role in any dental office. As stated by a dental assistant, “Dental hygienists work closely with the dentist as well as hands on with the patients. They assist dentists with operative procedures such as fillings and extractions, and making molds of patients teeth” (Wilson, Jennifer). A large part of their job is teaching patients proper dental care to ensure a lifetime of healthy teeth. This includes proper brushing and flossing techniques. According to the job out look, a day as a dental hygienist can include taking x-rays, cleaning and scaling teeth, charting treatment plans, putting sealants on teeth, taking impressions of teeth and completing information about the patient’s oral and medical history (Summary). In some states dental hygienist are allowed to give local anesthetic and place and remove sutures (Delivering Local Anesthetic). According to advantages of becoming a dental hygienist, hygienists spend more hands on time with the patients than the dentist does. These are some of the instruments that dental hygienists use on a daily basis: toothbrush, scaler, mirror, ultrasonic scaler, explorer, suction, computer, salvia ejector, rubber cap polisher, dental models, x-ray machine and probe. The dental hygienist uses a toothbrush to remove soft plaque from the teeth. Plaque is a soft coating on the teeth that contain bacteria. The bacteria can cause tooth decay and gum disease. The amount of plaque on the teeth gives the hygienist an idea of how well the daily brushing and flossing of the patient’s teeth are completed on a regular basis. The scaler is used to remove hardened plaque or calculus from the teeth. The mirror is used to look closely at the surfaces of the teeth a...
This week’s course work was and excellent review of the material that I have learned previously. I definitely like our textbook; however, it gets a little heavy to hold after a while.
When I read the prompt for this reflection essay about learning experience, a lot of topics came up to my mind. I can recall many experiences, but only one experience stands out more than the others. In 2015, I was very fortunate to be accepted in one of the school programs that I consider that it is hard to get into, Dental Hygiene Program. I thought I passed through the greatest challenge of my life by being accepted to the program, but I was wrong. My journey getting into dental hygiene school was rough, but my journey getting out of school was even tougher.
Ever since I was a little kid, I have loved going to the dentist. I was never scared, not even when I went for my fillings and wisdom teeth extractions. Mostly all the hygienist I have had so far have been friendly, patient and always ready to help with a big smile on their face and that is what attracted me towards this career. I want to help people in need that cannot afford the services.
There are many opportunities out there for hygienists to deliver the health care message to not only the individuals that cannot afford to go to the dental office, but also the individuals like older citizens and disabled individuals and to different schools around the nation. With that being said, it is not only just the hygienist job to provide that information. Other healthcare professionals are expected to come together and commonly agree on accurate information to specific individuals. “Healthcare professions, including dental hygienists, nurses and physicians should be communicating with each other and working collaboratively for common health care goals. This is the way that we should be practicing and also educating the future” (Pera). It is important to educate children now and get it in their heads that taking care of their teeth and gums and also their body in general is a good way to be successful not just now, but in the future as well. In order to do so, all health care professions are required to step up and come together to inform the young children in schools as well as the underprivileged people who lack the knowledge
To be honest my initial inspiration to take the dental therapy and hygienist course was from my mother, who would say ‘If more people had healthy teeth, more people would smile’.For me this statement was a turning point ,as it lead me to wondering that maybe the lack of clean and healthy teeth , is actually the prime reason to why many of us today do not smile enough , causing less unity between the people in our society. Hence from my research into the dental world, I settled on this course as it gives an opportunity for me to not only learn how to provide an assistance to the dentists trying to spread clean teeth ,but also get a chance to help and encourage younger, elder and those with disabilities to carry out the dental treatments, so
After being lost, puzzled, and indecisive for a while now about which health-related career I desire the most, I finally made up my mind and selected a major. I decided to complete a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Science after accomplishing an Associate’s Degree in Science, which is an open field filled with opportunities for several health professions. I realized that a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Science is the way to go as it enables me to switch back and forth between all of the health occupations that I worship. Down the road, I can even further my education and specialize in a specific domain that I am willing to commit to. In general, Health Science is a major where professionals undergo several tasks such as improving their community’s health and overall wellbeing, get involved in nutrition related conditions, use epidemiological techniques, counteract various infections, and enrich physical and daily health routines.
As we grow up, we are often asked what we want to be. Many people say careers such as a doctor or an actor. When I grow up, I want to be a dental hygienist. When I tell people this they often think i’m crazy for wanting to “work in someone’s mouth”. Dental hygiene is appealing to me. It is a big part of personal hygiene and keeping yourself healthy. One of the first things a person notices about you is your smile and I want to help people perfect theirs. I know that being a dental hygienist will not be the easiest thing in the world but there are some benefits. You don’t have to work full time if you don’t want to. Also as stated by Jenny Lewellen, “Overtime is not expected” (Lewellen). Hygienists also get a good salary. “The median annual wage for
My name is Betsy Eapen. I enjoyed educating and guiding patients about the importance of oral health when I was working as a Dental Assistant, and that has encouraged me to pursue Dental Hygiene as my major area of study. I always love to work in a health profession field. I enjoyed working with the people and also like the harmony in dental office. I also helped office jobs like scheduling the appointment, receiving patients in the office and keeping patient records. I believe that I am genuine and compassionate to others and those are some of my unique characteristics . I hope to learn how to talk, act and interact with different kinds of people and communities in society through this class, and hope to use these experiences to pursue
I can remember being a little boy sitting at the piano in church, listening to the preacher talk of how Jesus washed the disciples’ feet, which symbolizes the idea that we are here to serve. That message profoundly resonated with me throughout life. It was not until I began accompanying my grandmother to her multiple dental visits that I was able to see how I could put this calling of service into action. I saw firsthand the significant positive impact my grandmother’s dentist was able to make in her life, which encouraged me to want to learn about the field of dentistry. I then started researching dental health and learning of the importance of oral healthcare and how it affects the entire body. I then began to learn of how patient access to proper dental care was limited because of several factors such as, financial barriers, transportation, and dental fear, especially in the underserved minority communities. Given the shortage of black dentists, I realized I could make a positive difference by being an inspiration to those in the community, as well as serve in a professional career that would provide needed healthcare to the community. This is when I began to develop such a strong passion for
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.
Before I explain why I want to be a Dental Hygienist and why I think I will be an asset to the profession, I want to shed some background information to help you understand more. Ever since I began high school, I knew I wanted to be in the heath care field. I went though four years nursing classes taught by the high school. The health care field is a strong interest of mine. So, during my senior year, I decided to do dual enrollment with Albany Tech, to become a Certified Nursing Assistant. I took classes like medical terminology and diet and nutrition. Half way through my senior year, I realized it was not something I wanted to do. My mind was completely changed on getting my nursing major after high school was over. I was stuck and didn’t
Dental hygienists often describe their careers as rewarding, being able to be with patients on a one on one basis is very intimate and gratifying. When you ask a dental hygienist what technology impacts their everyday experience it is almost a comical reaction. There has been many advances technologically in the dental field, however, most end up benefitting the dentist. Dental hygiene is still fueled by good old fashioned elbow grease. It takes experience and education to be able to identify what needs to be cleaned on a patient’s teeth and there is not an instrument to substitute that. In 1987 Dr. Francis Mouyen introduced the first digital radiography machine (IIic & Stojanovic, 2012, p.81). This has proven to be a significant advancement for dental hygienists. It has enabled them to do their job more efficiently. Digital dental x-rays have revolutionized the dental hygiene profession because hygienists no longer have to wait to develop the film, they are able to take 3-D images which helps diagnose periodontal disease more effectively, and they are able to send the films in digital format to other professionals, which allows them to communicate about a patients care in a more
Using the six assumptions of adult learning I can implement what pro instructors in the art of andragogy do by designing the tooth anatomy class to be self-directed, creative and collaborative as opposed to the teacher-directed lecture format. These changes should better engage the students, allow them to express what experience they already possess in this area, and apply the information directly to the patient and satisfy their need and emotions as to how the information can better help society.
Oral education may be needed to enhance in the future over the world. Promoting and maintaining good oral habits is important to our whole body health. Works Cited Al-Hussaini, R., Al-Kandari, M., Hamadi, T., Al-Mutawa, A., Honkala, S., & Memon, A. (2003). Dental health knowledge, attitudes and behaviour among students at the Kuwait University Health Sciences Centre. Medical Principles and Practice, 12(4), 260-265.