Dental Hygiene Students Assisting in Workforce Issues

Abstract

The purpose of this program is to involve dental hygiene (DH) students in school-based oral health programs under the general supervision of a dentist. Third and fourth-year baccalaureate DH students have participated in the Dental Sealant Grant Program (DSGP). Presently, fourth-year students are assigned to the DSGP as part of a Rural Health course; thus, providing them with a practical service-learning opportunity, and filling a gap in the present workforce to meet the oral health needs within several rural communities. The program has had a history of providing preventive oral health services to the community; however, past problems encountered were restrictive supervision laws and difficulty obtaining dental personnel including licensed dental hygienists and dentists. DH students provide sealants and oral hygiene education to children eligible for free/reduced lunch and/or Medicaid. Previous to the signing of general supervision (GS) into law in August 2004, the DH students had been supervised by licensed DH faculty, including a supervising dentist, leading to an increase in manpower, hours of operation, and production. Prior to general supervision, the DSGP recorded 319 exams and 738 sealants within a 4-year timeframe (spring 2001 through summer 2004). Data represents 7, 16-week (N=112) semesters that averaged 40 exams and 92 sealants. However, after GS, the DSGP recorded 307 exams and 617 sealants in a shorter time period (fall 2004 to spring 2005) for 2, 16-week semesters (N=32) that averaged 153 exams and 309 sealants. Although the DSGP has been a part of the DH program's community outreach to school sites and church-sponsored summer lunch initiatives, it is only in its second year as a course rotation site. Further evaluation of the DH students' learning experiences and an analysis of caries experiences among grade school children will become integral components of this program.