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November 2008 | Modern Hygienist
Why public health? Because it’s the professional intersection between the known and unknown. There are numerous challenges facing our nation today. Undoubtedly, they will require willing participants and coordinated collaborative approaches to resolve. As dental hygienists we know all too well the dilemma our underserved face in accessing comprehensive, prevention-based care. The statistics are staggering and the disparity knows no specific boundaries, reaching our most vulnerable regardless of age, gender or ethnicity. Now is the time for all of us to show the power of our profession, step outside our comfort zones and work within our communities to effect real and lasting change. I have been asked time and again why I chose a career in public health. In the beginning I would answer very robustly (and somewhat naively) that I wanted to change the world! Now, as I reflect on that question, I would have to say my answer is much the same except I now know I can’t change the “whole” world. I can however, make “my” world a better and healthier place for having me in it. To that end, each of us as dental healthcare prevention specialists has an important place in public health. Know the mission The mission of public health is to fulfill society’s interest in assuring conditions in which people can be healthy. Access to comprehensive dental care is consistently recognized as one of the top unmet needs our at-risk populations face. With the numbers of uninsured and underinsured on the rise and a volatile economy that will force people to make difficult financial decisions, our expertise and skills are needed now more than ever. Our challenge, as I see it, is to become active public health advocates who reach into our communities and begin to touch the lives of those who need us most. Taking that first step into the realm of the unknown can bring a feeling of fear and apprehension. Where to start? What to do? Who should I talk to? Do I have the time? Can I afford it? Find your strategy Communities are desperate for our services. Collaboration among interested stakeholders can take the form of local or statewide coalitions that would welcome your knowledge and skills. Connecting with your local dental hygiene association component, health departments, school administrators, nurses, faith-based organizations or long-term care facilities would offer a wide variety of participation options. Finally, find a dental hygiene mentor—there are many unsung heroes among us who could use your help and would provide you with unlimited inspiration and knowledge of dental public health. Don’t give up Often, the enormity of the problem can be so overwhelming that we throw in the towel before we even begin. I am fairly certain you won’t find a public health dental provider who will tell you that our work is easy—because it’s not. You won’t find providers who tell you that the financial rewards are what drive them—because they don’t. What does drive those in public health is the same thing that should drive all of us: providing the best oral healthcare possible. This dilemma didn’t happen overnight and it won’t be fixed overnight. It is still important that we do what we can—even if it appears small or insignificant—and keep in mind that the sum of all parts is needed to become whole. No one effort trumps the other in importance and value to the community. Lisa Bell is a contributing editor for Modern Hygienist.
This column will help to enhance and broaden understanding of the integral role of the dental hygienist in the public health arena.
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