East Valley Men’s Center 2014
Our
program had mobile equipment donated, and we were able to use this equipment at
a local men’s shelter. Fortunately we had experience with mobile equipment, so
it was not a new challenge, but using it on children as opposed to adults was
different. Homeless men are an underserved population that often gets
overlooked. The men there were thankful for the limited services we were able
to provide. While we were unable to do any restorative work, the hygiene
services we performed boosted their confidence as well as their oral health.
Oral Cancer Screenings - Maricopa Community College
Campuses 2013-2014
I
participated in oral cancer screenings on Mesa Community College Southern and
Dobson Campus, Red Mountain Campus, and on Chandler Gilbert Community College’s
campus. At these screenings we not only performed extra- and intra- oral
examinations, but tobacco cessation, and glucose screening. It was a quick and
easy public service that reached a large population of college students.
Oral Hygiene Education in Elementary Schools 2012-2014
Mesa
Community College participates in a Teach One- Show One program at Taft
Elementary School. We taught the 6th graders and the 6th graders taught the 1st
graders. We teach the 6th grade students about good nutritional choices and
brushing and flossing techniques. As a second year student I was responsible
for organizing the event. I created white boards with teeth and as a class we
created magnetic “bad” foods and good foods. This showed the children that the
bad foods stick to our teeth and the good foods do not. I gathered donations to
provide the children with a toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss. Many of the
children expressed that they did not have toothpaste or floss at home, so it
was gratifying to be able to give them some.
It
was fun to watch the 6th graders to then teach the 1st graders. They remembered
everything we taught them and were eager to teach what they had learned. The 1st
grader students were equally excited. I am anxious to see how the program goes
years from now when the 6th grade students are those that have been taught
previously. 
Another
elementary school we visited was Hermosa Vista Elementary in their special
needs classroom. My clinic team developed a plan and worked with the teacher to figure out how to best help the students. We provided nutrition and oral hygiene education across two
different visits. The first visit the kids were excited to have us there but
some were a little weary. By the second visit, they were all excited and
involved. The children had varying degrees of physical and mental disabilities
but all are those that would require someone to help them with their oral
health care, but all were excited about brushing and flossing by the end. Arizona School of Dental Health Special Needs Clinic 2013-2014
As
a student hygienist I was able to treat patients with special needs in a clinic
designed to meet their needs. This provided me an opportunity to develop the
skills to work with patients with physical and mental disabilities. I am better
able to adapt to an individual patient’s needs and help any patient achieve
optimum oral health.
Give Kids a Smile Day 2013, 2014
I
was able to participate in the ADA’s Give Kids a Smile at the Arizona School of
Dental Health’s campus. It was a fun filled day with elementary school children
being bused in from all over the valley. As student hygienists, we were able to
provide prophylaxis, fluoride varnish, and sealants. It was a rewarding
experience to get to help so many children better their oral health.
1st Things 1st Fluoride Varnish Program 2013
1st Things 1st Fluoride Varnish Program 2013
A
program sponsored by Dignity Health, 1st Things 1st is a program that screens
children ages newborn to 5 years old using the Early Childhood Cares (ECC) and
Basic Screening Survey (BSS) and applies fluoride varnish. We provided
nutrition information and oral hygiene instruction as well. I had multiple
opportunities to participate in low income areas and in a special needs
preschool.
Dignity Health Children’s Dental Clinic 2013
First
at San Marcos Elementary and then at the Chandler Care Clinic, I was able to
provided prophylaxis, fluoride varnish, and sealants to the underserved
population of low income children. The San Marcos Clinic used mobile equipment
in a classroom, which provided valuable experience in using mobile equipment
and the unique challenges it presents. The Chandler Care Clinic was a new
facility with beautiful equipment that allowed our patients to sit back without
the chair falling over.
