Dental Therapy Program

2013-2014

1 Full Time Dental Therapist

FNIH Community –based Dental Therapy Contribution Agreement

Supervision: Clinical supervision is provided by the Dentist contracted to provide services to JSHC. Internal clinic supervision is provided by the Health Director.

GOAL: To enhance the Dental Health and thereby the overall health of JSCN Community by increasing access to Dental Therapy

FOCUS POPULATION: children, youth and adults of James Smith Cree Nations

Mission Statement: James Smith Health Staff will work together as a team in the spirit of co-operation, mutual support and respect to provide holistic health care services to the best of our abilities.

REPORTING: In addition to compiling information described in the 5 year Evaluation Plan. DT will also report, as per DSDR, Quarterly reporting and Annual report.

Acronyms: DT- Community Dental Therapist; DTA- Dental Therapy Aide; HC- Health Committee; BCCS- Bernard Constant Community School; AR Annual report; CHR-Community Health Rep

ON-GOING CORE (Routine) SERVICES 2013-2018 according to 5 year Health Plan

Provider Qualifications
With few exceptions, dental therapists currently working in First Nation or Inuit communities south of 60° are graduates of the two-year dental therapy program offered at the National School of Dental Therapy in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. Dental therapists are unregulated provincially outside of the province of Saskatchewan (they are regulated in the Northwest Territories, Yukon and Nunavut). Dental therapists employed by the federal government work under the supervision of a licensed dentist.

Dental Therapy strives to improve, and ultimately maintain the oral health of First Nations living on-reserve and Inuit living in Inuit communities at a level comparable to other Canadians living in similar conditions. Dental Therapy services are delivered by federal employees, or through contractual or contribution agreements with regional or local First Nations health care organizations or provincial/territorial health authorities. This occurs in all Health Canada regions except Ontario and Quebec, where there are no dental therapists, due to provincial legislation.

Under the supervision of a dentist, dental therapists deliver a range of basic services including oral health promotion activities, clinical care, emergency and preventive services, screening, recall, specific & emergency and completed treatment plans, . Prevention, Education and Promotion (including COHI): screening, application of sealant on occlusal surfaces; regular weekly fluoride rinsing; health promotion activities. They also refer clients to dentists for services beyond their scope of practice.

JAMES SMITH HEALTH SERVICE COMMUNITY HEALTH PLAN: COHI PROGRAM

GOAL: Improve oral health for children, and in doing so improve their overall general health; teach parents and caregivers how to prevent dental diseases for themselves and their children; prevent early childhood tooth decay and avoid the need for unpleasant dental treatment; introduce babies and young children to dentistry that is successful, painless and fun

FOCUS POPULATION: 0 to 7(8) year olds on JSCN Reserve

REPORTING: In addition to compiling information described in Evaluation Plan & Responsibilities column below, will also report as per CBRT requirements and COHI requirements

Acronyms: CA- COHI Aide; DT- Dental Therapist; NIC- Nurse in Charge; AHSOR- Aboriginal Headstart on Reserve

COHI Year: Starts the beginning of school year and ends in August

The Children's Oral Health Initiative (COHI)

Some dental therapists play a key part in the Children's Oral Health Initiative in their communities. This service is delivered by our community COHI Aide with supervision from FNIH COHI dental therapists. In most FNIH regions dental therapists serve all members of a community. Where they are associated with COHI, their target clientele is children aged 0-7, their parents and caregivers, and pregnant women.

Health Canada supervises the COHI Dental Therapist

COHI Dental Therapist supervises PT COHI Aide (Janel Sanderson)

The COHI program runs out of the COHI Dental Room in the JSHC. The part-time COHI Aide is also the part-time Dental Therapy Aide and works on prevention activities with students.

The goals of the COHI program are as follows:
• Improve oral health for children, and in doing so improve their overall general health.
• Teach parents and caregivers how to prevent dental diseases from themselves and their children.
• Prevent early childhood tooth decay and avoid the need for unpleasant dental treatment.
• Introduce babies and young children to dentistry that is successful, painless and fun.