Access to dental care plays a major role in the oral health of many communities across the world. The term "Access to Dental Care" can be further broken down into different subcategories called "barriers". There are many reasons, or "barriers", that will impact why a person may choose to not go to the dentist or prioritize the health of their oral cavity. Some of these barriers may include severe dental anxiety due to negative dental experiences in the past, limited financial resources, lack of education regarding the importance of regular dental maintenance, lack of transportation to get to a dental clinic, and an inability to find a dentist nearby who has open availability in their schedule. A lot of times dental offices will be booked for months or even years in advance. Rural communities, in particular, have a more difficult time finding a dentist who is geographically close and has open availability (Dye et al., 2021). According to an article written by Dentistry Today in 2021, "There are 6,486 dental care health professional shortage areas (HPSAs) in the United States and its territories, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). These areas cover a population of 59,941,090, the HRSA said, and only 29.28% of their needs are met. Also, the nation needs 10,716 more practitioners to remove these HSPA designations." (Dentistry Today, 2021).
One of the ways that dental hygienists may be able to help eliminate some of the issues regarding limited availability in dental offices is by focusing on preventative care and actively engaging with patients to help them achieve a state of health. When the emphasis is placed on disease prevention and oral hygiene education, the need for care will be diminished which will provide increased availability for patients with a higher level of need for dental care (Dye et al., 2021). This is supported by the U.S. National Library of Medicine when they wrote, "Both universal and targeted interventions at multiple levels of influence are needed to eliminate disparities in access to oral health care and end the disgrace of poor oral health as the national symbol of social inequality." (Northridge et al., 2020).
Dental hygienists ensure the successful delivery of care by treating each patient on a case-by-case basis. Oral hygiene instruction should be specific to the needs of each individual patient and recommendations for dental aids should be suggested in a way that will motivate patients to focus on their oral hygiene practices at home. The treatment of each patient will vary as well. One patient may require an SRP every 3 months while a different patient may require laser therapy in addition to receiving an SRP every 3 months. Once a patient has been proven to be in a consistent state of health, they may be moved from a 3-month perio maintenance schedule to a 4-month or 6-month recall schedule. This would create additional openings for other patients in need of dental care. A dental hygienist can also take advantage of the opportunity to educate communities about the benefits of water fluoridation, sealants, school-based prevention programs, fluoride mouth rinse programs, and the role that poor oral hygiene plays in systemic diseases. If a dental hygienist is effective in preventative care and educating their patients, there will be more opportunities for new patients to come in who are in need of dental care.
Unfortunately, there are some ethical dilemmas that may arise for dental hygienists. Dental hygienists may be tempted to change a patient from a 3-month cleaning schedule to a 6-month cleaning schedule when that patient may not be ready to go to a 6-month cleaning schedule. However, the opposite problem may occur as well. The dental practice that a hygienist works for may push for the hygienist to keep a patient on a 3-month cleaning schedule due to the fact that the dental practice would make more money that way. An ethical dental hygienist would consider the needs of each individual and place each patient on the cleaning schedule that is best for that particular individual regardless of the pressures placed upon them by the demand for money.
In conclusion, it is important for dental hygienists to accurately assess the needs of the community around them and take active steps to tear down barriers that may prevent patients from receiving the dental care that they need. As a dental hygienist, prevention and education are two key components of being an effective practitioner and providing the best standard of care possible for each individual patient. When the focus is placed on the needs of the patient, it will become easier to combat ethical dilemmas that may arise and dental care may become more accessible to the community as a whole.
References:
Dentistry Today. (2021, September 30). The United States needs 10,716 more dentists to cover shortage areas. Dentistry Today. Retrieved October 10, 2022, from https://www.dentistrytoday.com/the-united-states-needs-10-716-more-dentists-to-cover-shortage-areas/#:~:text=There%20are%206%2C486%20dental%20care,of%20their%20needs%20are%20met.
Dye, B., Mascarenhas, K., and Okunseri, C. (2021). Burt and Ecklund’s
dentistry, dental practice and the community (7th ed.). Elsevier
Northridge, M. E., Kumar, A., & Kaur, R. (2020, April 2). Disparities in access to oral health care. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved October 10, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7125002/
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