Dental & Oral Care
Prevention of dental disease is key to overall health!
When we talk about prevention, we are talking about stopping something from happening. We want to stop dental diseases such as tooth decay and gingivitis from happening. Every participant should have an oral health champion, and you can be that person!
You may be responsible for overseeing or providing the daily oral care for a participant. A participant may be at particular high risk of dental disease. For example, persons with developmental disabilities often have genetic disorders that increase their risk of dental disease (University of Washington School of Dentistry). Therefore, daily mouth care must be a priority.
Maintaining dental health means that the participant will avoid cavities, gum infections, pain, and loss of teeth. This course will cover proper oral and dental care and how to support a participant to overcome any barriers that may stand in the way of their good oral health. This might include teaching a participant about their daily oral health routine, using appropriate adaptations, and using positive behavior support strategies such as desensitization and shaping.
Dentists and dental hygienists know how to prevent cavities and gum infections, but daily oral care practices and monitoring are critical. Early detection of dental problems at home is the most effective way to address dental needs. Providing daily oral care and monitoring dental health can help to prevent toothaches, dental and other health emergencies, aspiration pneumonia, and in rare cases, death.
In this course, you will learn to recognize early signs and symptoms of tooth decay and gingivitis. You will learn how to develop an Oral Health Care Plan with a participant by planning and working together with the dentist or dental hygienist and the participant’s Circle of Support.
Objectives
At the end of the lesson, you will be able to:
- Identify the difference between a healthy mouth and an unhealthy mouth.
- Recognize the link between general health and oral health.
- Identify and describe the four factors that influence oral health: genetic conditions, medications, physical limitations, and special diets.
- Describe the food and drink choices that can positively impact good oral health and the protective factors that help to maintain a healthy environment in the mouth.
- Describe what plaque is and how it leads to tooth decay.
- Describe gingivitis, periodontitis, and dental abscess and how these conditions can lead to other medical problems.
At the end of the lesson, you will be able to:
- Identify the areas in the mouth where plaque is found.
- Identify the best practices for basic oral hygiene daily care.
- Describe what to brush and how to brush.
- Describe how to remove plaque from between the teeth.
At the end of the lesson, you will be able to:
- Identify and describe the four recommended steps when using positive behavior support strategies.
- Identify the common causes of irritation, avoidance, or refusal that may occur during an oral hygiene session.
- Describe the two specific positive behavior support strategies: desensitization and shaping.
At the end of the lesson, you will be able to:
- Describe the purpose of the Oral Hygiene Skill Survey and Oral Health Care Plan.
- Identify the scoring system of the Oral Hygiene Skill Survey.
Course Workbook
🖨 Print the Dental and Oral Care Workbook (PDF), or print the full Visions Workbooks (PDF).
Use the workbook to take notes, prepare for quizzes, and keep as a reference for the future.
