Program Learning Outcome - design, implement and evaluate a range of primary, interceptive, therapeutic, preventative, and on-going oral health care services to meet the unique needs of clients.
With being in only my second semester of my dental hygiene program, this learning outcome is one that is currently not yet met. Throughout the entirety of of this program, I will be able to develop and formulate ideas on how to best treat clients based on their individual needs, strengthening my knowledge and proficiency on creating unique care plans that aid in the oral wellbeing of the community I serve. At this time, I am only beginning to scratch the surface of putting this goal into action, as I am starting to create dental hygiene care plans for mock clients based on the information they have provided us and the various interventions, education, and self-care instruction that I have become familiar with. I am also becoming familiar with using evidence-based decision making to decide which interventions would be beneficial to the client, such as fluoride treatment for those who are at risk of developing dental caries and sealants for those with deep, hard to clean, pits and fissures. Additionally, as a dental hygienist, I will be required to explain procedures to clients, including the associated risks of individual assessments, interventions, and treatment options. I have begun to learn about these risks, and have demonstrated obtaining informed consent in our clinical setting when operating on fellow students.
"Dental x-ray" by Wix​
In this discussion post assignment I was tasked with coming up with a diagnosis, treatment options, and desired goals that those options would fulfill for 2 individual clients.
I was able to recognize that both clients had individual needs that had to be addressed, and that there is not a one-size-fits-all approach. I believe that I was able to touch on some of the needs the clients presented and how I would provide treatment to improve their oral health. Upon comparing my treatment options with other students, I quickly discovered that there were options I did not include. Looking back on this, I feel as though I could have provided more treatment options and am able to see that some clients may only need a small amount of treatment while other require heavy intervention. Having said that, I still feel that this was a good foundation to build upon, as I made the connections between client habits and oral health status, and the need for certain interventions based upon this information.
This lesson from the Pre-Clinical Dental Hygiene 2 course was particularly informative regarding the dental hygiene process of care and the care plans I will be formulating as I progress through the program.
It highlighted the need for customized care plans based on the individual needs and health status of clients, as well as discuss the various stages of the process of care including the care plan, evaluation, and documentation. It also touched on goal setting and the necessity of creating patient-centered goals, as well as individualized interventions and the expected outcomes. Once this information is put together, the client is presented with the care plan in an effort to inform them of their diagnosis and the proposed plan going forward. This lesson also reiterated the importance of acquiring informed consent from the client, which I recognize as a cornerstone of providing effective, safe, and morally right healthcare services.
"Dental Cleaning" by Wix​
"Dental Smile" by Wix​