Smoking Cessation Counseling
As I was conducting patient clinic sessions, I was able to see many patients who smoked. I was also able to see how smoking affects my overall health and oral health. So I became interested in smoking cessation education. Through this research paper, I took the time to research smoking cessation, especially electronic cigarettes. In general, people think that e-cigarettes are safer than regular cigarettes, but this is not true, and I learned through research that many teenagers smoke e-cigarettes because of this misconception. I was able to research the ingredients in cigarettes and e-cigarettes in more detail, and after writing this research paper, I felt more confident in educating patients about why they should quit smoking and how smoking affects their overall and oral health. Because dental hygienists are in a position to see patients on a regular basis, I thought we are in an appropriate position to provide smoking cessation education, and it was time to think about the role I should take on.
Refusing Dental Radiographs
When patients receive dental treatment, x-rays may be one of the most concerning aspects. In fact, while seeing patients at a school clinic, I saw a case of a patient who refused to take x-rays even when I was explained to patient that x-rays were necessary as a minimum and necessary. Through this research paper, I was able to learn that although the amount of radiation taken at the dental field is very small, but even a very small amount can have a definite bad effect and that it is important to minimize it. I was able to think once more from the patient’s perspective, and from the dental hygienist’s perspective, I was able to think again about how to explain things to patients and how I need to improve my skills to prevent retakes.
Dental treatment according to living standard
This research paper describes the basic things that each person should receive according to their situation in the modern society we live in, especially dental treatment. In the United States, the treatment that can be received is limited depending on the individual’s dental insurance. This was a research paper to think again about how I can serve the public society as a dental hygienist and what role I can play in this social structure.
Infection Control
Through this research paper, I was able to think again about how important infection control is. I was once again reminded of how my unconscious actions can affect my patient and what I need to do to protect myself and patients in a bacteria-rich environment.
Possible clinical finding – Ranula/ Tubarial Salivary Gland/ Trigeminal Neuralgia / Bell’s Palsy/ Xerostomia
I wrote a research paper about the various lesions that can be found in clinical practice and the role and response as a dental hygienist. I was also able to research newly discovered diseases and what I should do as a dental hygienist to avoid confusion. Of course, as dental hygienists, we cannot diagnose diseases, but since patients often see dental hygienists for regular checkups, I were able to think about our role one more time. It was also a time to remind me once again that dental hygienists can be involved not only in a patient’s oral health but also in their overall health by discovering diseases and suggesting the right direction for treatment.
Ranula/ Tubarial Salivary Gland/ Trigeminal Neuralgia & Bell’s Palsy/ Xerostomia
