Leading oral hygienist advocates for a more inclusive and diverse dental industry

A key part of your presentation will concern the creative rethinking of dental hygiene to drive positive change in the profession. In what ways do you see this innovation unfolding, and what practical changes do you envision?
Rethinking dental hygiene requires a shift in the mindset of all dental hygienists. We must move away from the silos we find ourselves and the limited perspectives of those who endeavour to control the profession. We are long past the point where another profession even needs to control the dental hygiene profession. It is important for dental hygienists to recognise their relevance as preventive oral health professionals who can function in a variety of settings with many other healthcare providers. This change in philosophy begins with dental hygiene education programmes teaching students to be autonomous and accountable. It begins with dental hygienists envisioning themselves beyond the four walls of a dental operatory and creating their own facilities, their own environments of care. The practical elements of this are accepting responsibility as a licensed healthcare provider and not burdening another professions with that role, as well as collaborating with other providers and stakeholders to create opportunities to increase access to care and provide oral healthcare following the standards of the dental hygiene profession.

Your presentation will also engage with the highly significant issues of inclusivity and accessibility in dental hygiene settings. What current challenges exist in this regard, and what do you see as the best way forwards to achieve parity for diverse patient groups?
When I speak with dental hygienists, they pride themselves on the manner in which they care for their patients—and they do care greatly. They are passionate about their service to humanity. However, we do know that some are better than others and that there is tremendous need to ensure that equity and access are achieved. How do we do that? We open our eyes. We see what is occurring in our communities and in the world. We strive to take a world view instead of a private-practice view of the needs before us. We recognise that our societies are changing, and we ask how we can adapt to meet the evolving needs of our communities. Offering language applications and flexible appointment schedules is a good first step. Additional steps might include examining the social determinants of health for those we serve and those within our community that we have yet to meet, developing hygiene clinics separately or as part of other wellness centres within areas of need, partnering with dental therapists and other caregivers, and working with other stakeholders to lay the foundation for change, all of which will look different for each community. Hygienists must be the leaders in creating change in this area and legislate for recognition that equity is essential and possible.

A vital aspect of your paper is that knowledge is power, particularly as regards the ability of dental hygienists to deliver the best possible care through staying abreast of the latest research and innovations. How do you see greater access to knowledge and technology resulting in better patient outcomes?
First, I have to say, I can’t imagine living in a world of science and not having the benefit of discovery. Dental hygiene is a science. We want to help our patients prevent, not just manage, their oral health conditions. How can we do that if we stay the same and don’t use the benefits of knowledge and technology? Gone are the days when we provide a prophylaxis and tell patients to brush and floss at home. We know so much more than that former approach to patient care. When a patient sits in our chair, we are using science and technology to determine whether it is safe to treat that patient, whether the patient needs care coordinated with other health specialists and whether the patient is at risk of other diseases because of his or her oral health status, and we can determine what preventive and therapeutic options will work best for that patient to return to health.

Thanks to technology, we can make the patient experience better and the patient’s home care experience more productive, efficient and effective. Thanks to research and technology, we can personalise oral healthcare, instead of mechanising it. If a patient is at risk of oral cancer, we can provide education and solutions such as a recommendation for a human papillomavirus vaccine. If a patient is undergoing cancer treatment, we can offer recommendations for managing mucositis, xerostomia, caries, etc. If a patient is smoking or vaping, we can provide counselling techniques and tips to work towards smoking cessation. If a patient has gingivitis, we can help reverse that process, thereby preventing the patient from getting periodontitis. If a patient does not want to floss—and most people don’t like flossing—we have many other options for interproximal biofilm management thanks to research and technology. Knowledge, whether it is based on technology or otherwise, helps us advance our care approach and give our patients the best possible opportunities for attaining and maintaining oral health.

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