Discuss the role of the oral health therapist as part of the dental team and as part of the allied health team in providing care for the adolescent with intellectual disability.
INTRODUCTION
Oral health can predict our overall health and wellbeing. Inadequate oral health and untreated oral diseases and conditions can have a huge impact on quality of life. Poor oral health is more dominant amongst disadvantaged group which includes people with physical and intellectual disability, aboriginals, lower socio- economic status people etc. Adolescents with intellectual disability are one of the many disadvantages populations yet research shows that people with intellectual disability have high prevalence of gingivitis and have more untreated caries …show more content…
OHTs are part of bigger dental team therefore one of their main roles is to provide their assistance in educating, researching and promoting oral health and preventive dental practices amongst children and broader community. Sometimes these approach can create behavioural changes within each individuals which could benefit their overall health and lifestyle. OHT are dual qualified in dental therapy and dental hygiene. The dental team consist of wide range of dental professionals which includes dentists, dental speacilaists and allied practitioners such as dental hygienist, dental therapists, dental prosthetists and OHTS. The whole team work as a group to provide high quality dental care for all patients and respect their rights in regards to confidentiality, orivacy and informed consent. OHT provide treatment within their scope of practice and if the patient rewuire treatment beyond their scope of practice, they are referred to dentist or dental speacilists. OHT are part of evidence based dentistry which allows them to take a holistic patient centered …show more content…
There is a fourfold increase in dental caries between 12 and 21 years of age, and almost half of all teenagers have some signs of periodontal disease. Commonly people with intellectual disability are mild or moderate and would not require speaclist dental care as they can be treated successfully in general practice setting. Usually it is often the patient management that’s seems diffuclt rather than the dentistry in an individual who requires specialist care. OHTs role is to provide rountine check up and review, adequate treatment and prevention for the individuals with mild or moderate intellectual disability. Dentist, dental nurse, hygienist all have vital role to play and in some clinics have nurses with SCD
INTRODUCTION
Oral health can predict our overall health and wellbeing. Inadequate oral health and untreated oral diseases and conditions can have a huge impact on quality of life. Poor oral health is more dominant amongst disadvantaged group which includes people with physical and intellectual disability, aboriginals, lower socio- economic status people etc. Adolescents with intellectual disability are one of the many disadvantages populations yet research shows that people with intellectual disability have high prevalence of gingivitis and have more untreated caries …show more content…
OHTs are part of bigger dental team therefore one of their main roles is to provide their assistance in educating, researching and promoting oral health and preventive dental practices amongst children and broader community. Sometimes these approach can create behavioural changes within each individuals which could benefit their overall health and lifestyle. OHT are dual qualified in dental therapy and dental hygiene. The dental team consist of wide range of dental professionals which includes dentists, dental speacilaists and allied practitioners such as dental hygienist, dental therapists, dental prosthetists and OHTS. The whole team work as a group to provide high quality dental care for all patients and respect their rights in regards to confidentiality, orivacy and informed consent. OHT provide treatment within their scope of practice and if the patient rewuire treatment beyond their scope of practice, they are referred to dentist or dental speacilists. OHT are part of evidence based dentistry which allows them to take a holistic patient centered …show more content…
There is a fourfold increase in dental caries between 12 and 21 years of age, and almost half of all teenagers have some signs of periodontal disease. Commonly people with intellectual disability are mild or moderate and would not require speaclist dental care as they can be treated successfully in general practice setting. Usually it is often the patient management that’s seems diffuclt rather than the dentistry in an individual who requires specialist care. OHTs role is to provide rountine check up and review, adequate treatment and prevention for the individuals with mild or moderate intellectual disability. Dentist, dental nurse, hygienist all have vital role to play and in some clinics have nurses with SCD