cultural reflection

To overcome communication barriers by becoming culturally aware and sensitive of Hispanic clients by recognizing their differences.

Hola, me llamo Maria. Necesito una cita porque tengo dolor de muela. If you were the one answering the phone, would you know how to meet the needs of this client? Whether the conversation starts in English or Spanish, it has been said that the first thirty seconds of telephone conversation sets the tone for the caller’s relationship with the dental office.1 Communication is key. However, with that said, communication is more than learning a language. Language can be perceived as superficial. There are many barriers among the Hispanic population, dealing with oral health than a language barrier.
Western industrialized societies such as the United States, which see disease as a result of natural scientific phenomena, advocate medical treatments that combat microorganisms or use sophisticated technology to diagnose and treat disease. Other societies believe that illness is the result of supernatural phenomena and promote prayer or other spiritual interventions that counter the presumed disfavor of powerful forces.2 Cultural issues play a major role in patient compliance.2
It is important to remember that not all people from a given culture will act in a standard manner. Great variability exists within cultural groups based on socioeconomic status, level of education, and overall life experiences.3 Oral health is not a priority for many Hispanics. Some reasoning behind this could be due to the high cost of dental care, a lack of oral health literacy, and cultural barriers. In the Hispanic culture, dental cleanings and restorations are considered a luxury. Zaida Franco, a USI dental hygiene student, g...

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...option for $2.99 to have the unlimited services it offers. Lastly, just downloading a list of dental terminology could be helpful when communicating with a client who has not brought a translator with them. By adding these tools to the practice, the aim is not to give up the existing culture in the dental office, but rather to ensure that the dental practice demonstrates a friendly, competent, helping attitude to all patients.6
Conclusion:
Our hope throughout this project was to see with a wide angled lens instead of zoom. Knowing the culture and beliefs is the base of that cake, being able to speak the language is icing on the cake. As dental health professionals, we must be cognizant and respectful of others and not become ethnocentric in our ways. We will fail as health professionals by never earning the trust and respect of our clients if we become close-minded.