Dental Health Education

As the effectiveness of modern health care has been shown to heavily hinge on the quality of health education and the subsequent health-related behavior changes of patients, dental health education (DHE) is posited at the hub of our comprehensive oral health cares in the Dental Centre. Prevention, the best strategy in the new-generation health care, is embedded in our DHE as the major motif and has been playing an essential part in many domains of our dental cares. The objectives highlighted in our DHE include:

1. to empower patients and/or parents of child patients with updated knowledge in the cause, course, possible treatment/therapies, and prognosis of oral diseases,

2. to efficiently guide patients/parents toward an appropriate attitude conducive to better oral health, and

3. to effectively facilitate and sustain patients' behavior changes in their daily life.

Structurally, we have a dedicated area, the "dental health education unit" in the second floor of the Dental Centre, in which the implementation of our educational programs is actualized. This unit currently has 5 chairs, slide projectors, and a sundry of educational materials in various forms.

In the Dental Health Education unit, a patient learns the efficient techniques in brushing and flossing, practices before the mirror, and then recieve immediate feedback and furthur instruction from the dentist

We use simple diagrams, charts, models, or video to illustrate various pathological changes in our oral tissues, and to demonstrate how to prevent oral diseases, which include dental caries (tooth cavities), gum diseases, malocclusion (crooked teeth), tooth loss in adults, traumatic injuries to teeth and oral tissues, and oral cancers. For better oral hygiene maintenance, we teach patients the efficient techniques in tooth brushing and flossing, and provides counseling that highlights the specific kinds of food to avoid or to choose in order to prevent diseases and enhance the oral health.

Recently we setup an evaluation package to assess the density/number of bacteria in patients' mouth and evaluate the quality and quantity of patients' saliva. These pertinent information not only help patients to identify the status of their current oral health, but also provide pathophysiological evidence for dentists to make a quality treatment plan based on the individual risk assessment.

The whole DHE program can be delivered at the chairside in clinics or at the DHE unit. Based on the diagnosis and treatment plan, dentists can select the proper depth and breadth of a dental health education program tailored to patients' individual needs.

Oral health evaluation and education can be delivered at the chairside in certain situations

Mother of a child patient is participating in and facilitating the personalized dental health education

Constantly upgrading our equipment, materials, and methodologies, we are striving to provide extraordinarily comprehensive, professional and personalized dental services through a quality oral health education in the Dental Centre.

Contributed by Dr Stephen Hsu

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