Mobile Dentistry and Head Start (OHS) Children’s Dental Hygiene

By | Date posted: | Last updated: June 1, 2023
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Humans have used various forms of dental care for centuries. It was known that cleaning teeth and tongue contributes to good oral health. Dentifrice is a French word for toothpaste. Dentifrice agents have been used in paste, powder, gel or liquid form to maintain oral hygiene globally.

Many South Asian and African countries have used “Dataan” twigs made from the neem tree for cleaning teeth for centuries. The pencil size twigs (sticks) can be chewed at one end to soften it to use it like a tooth brush. It cleans teeth with the liquid that comes out of the twig and toothpaste is not necessary. Twigs are also medicinal providing dental hygiene and curing a variety of ills. Dental experts agree that the “Dataan” seems to clean teeth well and some up-market health stores in the USA have been selling chew-stick as a natural ecological form of dental care.

The office of Head Start (OHS) is a United States of America federally funded comprehensive child development program for income eligible children and their families. The OHS protocol is to insure an on-going source of accessible dental and health care for children. To comply with the OHS requirement, Mobile Dental Clinics may be the only feasible source to reach children in the remote locations.

Health care issues need attention at birth. One can argue that health of a new born depends on the mother’s health. Neonate exhibit the following reflex actions.

  • Hold a baby so her feet are resting on a flat surface, she should make mimic walking movements.
  • Dropping her into waiting hands, she will throw her arms outwards.
  • Touch her cheeks or lips and this will prompt her to turn her head and open her mouth.
  • Babies are attracted to the red color.
  • Babies cry to make parents satisfy all their needs.

The Dental and Medical health for infants should start in the first year to insure their ability to learn and become healthy & successful adults.

The U.S Department of Health and Human Services has an office of Head Start (OHS) which deals with good oral health for neonates, infants, toddlers, and pre-school children so that when they grow up will have good oral and medical health. Children’s overall health determines their behavior, speech, language, and growth development. The protocol OHS follows should be a guide for all the parents across the country with children.

Here is a list of selected and simple oral health requirements for early childhood development and good health.
-For infants, cover a finger with a soft cloth or gauze and wipe gums daily.
-For children between one and two years of age once daily, after a meal brush the child’s teeth with a toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste.
-These simple steps can form good habits for parents and children.

How does a nation protect the underserved areas or poverished children? Medicare in conjunction with the office of Head Start (OHS) requires that Head Start staff or a volunteer work with the children to provide them with oral education and help with brushing gums and teeth. The program protocol further requires long term follow up to insure that these children continue to receive dental and medical services from fixed clinics. But if there is a shortage of dentists and physicians then the dental assistants or hygienists should be available to perform the service.

OHS also requires use of Mobile Dental Clinic as necessary to perform the services until a fixed permanent dental and medical clinic is available.

The fundamental dental care as simple as brushing children’s teeth and infants gums with fluoride can be the first step to help them grow up to be healthy adults.

Head Start health services focus is on prevention and early intervention and are based on the promise that a child must be healthy in order to be ready to learn. Good oral health for infants, toddlers, and pre-school children means when they grow up they will have good oral health and medical health. Children’s overall health determines their behavior, speech, language and growth development.

Equally important is the sustained program to insure the development of dental education and dental service for these children and their support groups like parents, teachers, volunteers, and providers. Children with obvious dental and medical issues should be able to secure the necessary long run help to maintain an acceptable level of health for their future success.

OHS is a federally funded comprehensive child development program for income eligible children and their families. But the system and protocols can be adapted by the communities with support from parents, dental/medical professionals and volunteers. This economical program can be adapted by the global community.

Children and families are to be linked to an on-going source of continuous, accessible health care including dental. This source can be either a fixed clinic or mobile coach. In some circumstances Mobile Dental Clinics may be the only feasible source to reach children in the remote locations.

Contact us at kbconsultants1958@gmail.com or 586-917-0245 for quotations & proposals for Mobile Dental Coaches and Trailers. Rentals available.

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Mobile Dental Clinic: A Best Choice For Dental Hospitals to Address Shortage of Dental Resources

By | Date posted: | Last updated: June 1, 2023
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Most of the U.S. hospitals are not equipped to offer Dental Treatments to patients in their emergency room facilities. Although, there is a well documented demand for such dental emergency service in the hospitals, the health insurance companies don’t view the Dental Service as a lucrative profit center. Some urgent care facilities, hospitals & dental colleges offer discounted dental services.
Democratic Presidential Candidates have been discussing Single Payer Universal Health Insurance which may help the patients with dental emergencies and reduce the cost for the hospitals and tax payers.

There are some life threatening dental emergencies, or traumas that require immediate attention at the emergency room in the hospital. These emergencies include jaw fractures and dislocations, an abscess with infection causing breathing or swallowing difficulties, and lacerations of the soft tissues of the face or mouth.

Your hospital, cannot help with other dental emergencies which are not life-threatening such as cracked tooth, lost tooth or a toothache. Hospitals are not equipped to provide treatment to restore tooth or basic dental service but they can offer pain prescriptions to manage pain until you can visit your dentist.

Urgent care facilities are a less expensive option to the hospital emergency rooms for dental emergencies. But they can offer medical or dental emergency solutions for non life threatening issues.

Some simple precautions can avoid accident and injury to the teeth causing you to visit the hospital emergency room.

  • Wearing mouth guards when participating in sports or recreational activities.
  • Avoiding chewing ice, popcorn kernels and hard candy, all of which can crack a tooth.
  • Use scissors, never your teeth, to cut things. A patient ended up having root canal when he used his teeth to crack open a pistachio.

WellSpan York Hospital Dental Center located in York, Pennsylvania has walk-in hours for same day urgent dental needs. No appointments are needed. This type of walk-in same day dental service in all the hospitals across the country can help with the dental emergencies.

New York Presbyterian Hospital provides urgent care with 24 hour access for patients needing emergency dental care. Most dental colleges provide discounted dental service to patients. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs provides medical as well as dental services to qualified patients.

There may be over the counter pain relief medication for dental use. Your pharmacist can help you to manage pain in case of dental emergency. Ibuprofen and acetaminophen are the most common over the counter pain relief medications. Most of the dental problems can be prevented by brushing twice a day, flossing daily, and regular dental checkups.

National Services Scotland (NHS) Hospital Dental Service (HDS) provides dental treatment to patients in their outpatient clinic. There are no in-patient beds in the dental hospitals and all in-patient activities occurs in the hospitals across the country. The dental patients are referred from medical and dental practitioners. This type of emergency dental service can be replicated in other countries.

Romney Care is the name given to Mitt Romney’s Health Care Insurance reform laws passed in Massachusetts in 2006 to provide all MA residents with affordable quality health insurance. The idea was that all citizens of the state should have health coverage. Romney Care was used as a model for the Affordable Care Act (Obama Care). As of today Romney Care is still in effect.

The Vermont state has also passed a Single Payer Health Care System beginning in 2017.

Colorado State will put a Single Payer Health Care System to vote in November 2016. If approved this program will be paid by raising payroll tax rate for employees & employers.

David Himmelstein is one of the authors of the plan that calls for implementing a Single Payer Health Care System in the US, eliminating the health insurance companies which may reduce the cost. Hemmelstein is supported by 2000 Physicians.

The uninsured, unemployed, poverty-stricken & destitute will be able to receive dental and medical services under the Single Payer Health Care Plan.

Contact us at kbconsultants1958@gmail.com for your inquiries about Dental Clinics quotations.

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Non Government Organizations, Mobile Dental Clinic & Medical/Dental Interaction

By | Date posted: | Last updated: June 1, 2023
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The negative impact of the pharmaceutical prescription medications on the Dental Heath of Patients is undisputable. A lack of monitoring of dental diseases caused by the prescription drugs further aggravates this issue. A global database of prescription medications & related dental health issues will shed light on unintended consequences on Dental Health and possible solutions. Primary dental health education in conjunction with routine preventive dental diagnostics & sealants programs using Mobile Dental Coaches/Trailers can improve the Dental Health of children globally. Non-Government organizations like the World Bank, Accordia Global Health Foundation & the UN foundation to name a few can help implement Dental Health Programs for children globally.

The Dental providers interested in creating a Dental service program using Mobile Dental Clinic Coach or Trailer will require an uninterrupted flow of funds after the initial investment and planning expenses. Besides the usual resources like the Governments and financial institutions there are Non-Government Organizations involved in providing leadership on global dental/health issues. See the attachment for names of some of these Non-Government Organizations and what they do.

Medical issues, treatments and prescribed medications can cause Dental problems. We will discuss a very specific Dental issue called Dry mouth. Dry Mouth is also referred to as Cotton mouth or Xerostomia and it is caused by many prescription medications. In fact, some Medications have dry mouth as a side effects and it is the #1 cause of Dry Mouth. For example, Psychiatric medications such as Imipramine HCL used for depression has a possible side effect of Dry Mouth.

Dry Mouth is found among people who take Simvastatin, especially for people who are 60 plus years old, and have been taking the drug for < 1 month, also taking Aspirin, and medication for high blood pressure.

Dental Patients should inform dentist if he/she is taking Losartan. Why?, Because It may cause severe or persistent Dry Mouth.

Note that the relationship between the above medications and Dry Mouth is not a medical opinion. Contact Physicians for Medical help.

Dry Mouth symptoms may include dryness in the mouth, bad breath, chapped lips or waking up at night feeling thirsty. It can also make eating difficult because saliva helps you taste, chew & digest food. Without enough saliva, simply eating a meal can become a challenge. Saliva maintains oral pH balance and tooth integrity, has antimicrobial properties, assists in speaking & swallowing, prevents dehydration, and helps protect the mouth’s soft tissue. Dry mouth can impact oral health. If left untreated Dry mouth can cause Cavities & Mouth infections.

One Dental Professional provides an interesting explanation for a novice. He says that think of the inside of your mouth like a Car wash, without Saliva, there isn’t any water to keep the Cars (Teeth) clean. This Dry mouth causes plaque & food to stick to the teeth surface, which can lead to cavities on the teeth & inflammation and infection of the gum tissues. Dry mouth can affect the gums and increase the risk for Gingivitis (Gum Disease) & Periodontal disease, tooth decay and mouth infections such as THRUSH. Medications reduce Saliva.

  • Medications, Dehydration, Weather, Low humidity levels, Dry air can shrink mucous membranes & leave you parched. A sugar filled diet, & sloppy oral hygiene will lead to tooth decay and rot along the gum line, this will result in reduced Saliva Production beneath the tongue causing Dry mouth.
  • Nerve damage that occurs with severe injury to the neck or head can also harm the nerves of the Saliva glands and the nerves don’t send clear message to the glands to produce Saliva & Dry mouth can occur.
  • Diabetes is often a result of chronic Dry mouth, which occurs when blood sugars are high & uncontrolled Diabetes.
  • A dry mouth and nose may be an early warning sign of an associated Autoimmune Disease.

Lack of proper access to dental care leads to a very expensive emergency room care which is also an inefficient source of dental care. Patients visiting the emergency rooms for Dental issues receive, in most cases, prescription medications in lieu of dental diagnostics or procedures. Ironically, the same prescription medications may cause Dry Mouth adding to the dental problem that the patient came for help in the first place. All these emergency room visits for Dental Care can be avoided by early Dental Care Education, access to a tooth brush, tooth paste, dental floss, and a proper sugar free diet and the dental Preventive Care. Proper dental service either from a fixed Dental Clinic or a Mobile Dental Coach/Trailer located across the Major Metropolis and Underserved areas can reduce the cumulative cost of the dental service for the community at large.

Attachment:

NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS.

  • WORLD BANK, a vital source of financial & technical assistance to developing countries around the world to fight poverty, including making investments to improve Medical & Dental health.
  • WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations System, responsible for providing leadership on global health matters, including shaping the health research agenda.
  • Accordia Global Health works within African Medical Centers to develop lasting institutional leadership and pave the way for stronger African health system.
  • Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy productive lives.

UN Foundation links UN’s work with others around the world, mobilizing the energy and expertise of business and NON-ORGANIZATIONS to help the UN tackle issues including climate change, children’s health, peace and security and poverty eradication.

  • Dental Care- Assistance is coordinated by a National non-profit, & free dental programs are provided by thousands of dentists as part of the Dental Lifetime Network and other charities.

Contact us at kbconsultants1958@gmail.com for help or a Price Quotation including a CAD Drawing & Terms for Mobile Dental Coach and Trailer .

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Mobile Dental Clinic Using Dental Vehicle To Extend Dental Care

By | Date posted: | Last updated: June 1, 2023
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Mobile Dental Coaches or Trailers are ideal to provide extended dental care in the Rural Areas in most Countries globally. Extended Dental Care using Mobile Dental Clinic initial expenditure can be substantial like buying a new house. It is very important to create your mission objectives with the following considerations.

  • In which Country will you be providing extended dental care? What geographical area to be serviced in square miles or kilometers?
  • How many days will you stay with your mobile clinic at your service area?, One day?, One week?, Two weeks?, Or longer?
  • What will be the terrain? rough?, semirural?, Hilly?.
  • Right hand or Left hand drive.
  • Automatic or Manual Transmission?
  • Gasoline or Diesel Engine?
  • Access to Electricity?, Water?, Sewage? etc.
  • Self-Contained Generator, Water, Sewage Etc. All these factors will help determine the modality of the Mobile Clinic. Mobile Coach or Mobile Trailer or Other?
  • New or Refurbishes? Cost of the Refurbished Unit will be fraction of the new Unit.
  • You will want to visit by Car or Truck the terrain to be serviced to determine the challenges you will face over the next 6 to 12 months.
  • If there are unresolved issues about the Mobile Dental Clinic in the future, it may cost more to resolve those matters later on.
  • Extended Care Dental Service requires Extended investigation to pin point all your needs & the type of Mobile Dental Clinic suitable.

The words MOBILE DENTAL CLINIC, DENTAL VEHICLE AND EXTEND DENTAL CARE are all applicable to the Dental/Medical service discourse in the Rural Areas Globally. It is not intended for any metropolis or Urban Areas. I will depict the critical issues and challenges when dealing with providing Dental/Medical services in the underserved areas and in extreme case remotest regions Globally.

Geographical separation from the Main land or Cities with population over 200 to 2,000 or more depending on the Country specifying what constitutes a “Rural Area”. Many live in Rural Villages some only accessible by a Mobile Dental Vehicle to deal with the rough terrain and unpaved roads. Four Wheel drive vehicles may become necessary and equipped with all the Dental equipment and supplies required to provide the necessary dental services. Extremely remote locations may be accessible only by boats, planes, snow mobiles, Horse or Donkey. Lack of adequate transportation, fluoridated community water supplies, electricity, functional space for providers are some of the issues to provide extended care in the Rural Areas.

There are many problems within rural population such as Tooth Diseases. Plaque & Tartar buildup on the teeth causes Tooth Diseases. Due to lack of Dental Care the tooth and gum diseases are untreated in the rural areas causing periodontal and medical issues. Due to the lack of education in the rural areas, the rural villagers don’t care for their teeth often or never. Rate of poverty is higher in the Rural Areas and larger the Elderly Population more challenging is the job for Providers. Emphasis should be to treat children early to prevent Plaque and Tarter build up by educating them to use toothbrush and tooth paste. Parents and elders should be educated about certain food diet can contribute to tooth diseases. The tooth diseases can further cause malnutrition as it may become very painful to eat. The dental diseases can culminate into medical issues shortening the life span of the rural communities.

The funds will be required to facilitate Dental Services in the Rural Areas. This funding can be expensive acquiring Mobile Dental Coaches or Trailers equipped with dental equipment and supplies. The cost of a new mobile dental coach or trailer can cost several hundred thousand dollars. The refurbished units will be fraction of the coast of a new unit. The funding from the Governments, private donations, United Nations, World Bank etc. will become necessary for the dental services to the rural areas. Each member Countries of the United Nations or the World Bank may have a different definition of what is Rural Area to be qualified for funding. We are a U.S.A based company and may be able to offer the overseas customers funding thru the Export Import (EXIM) bank of the USA, with required qualifications. Contact us for details, kbconsultants1958@gmail.com or 586 917 0245.

To help with these dental health issues dentists and dental therapist aides are required who travel out of their comfort zones to the remote villages to provide care. Consequently, there is a high level of difficulty finding providers willing to treat dental patients. In short there is an acute Provider shortages. Two fold approach can be used to procure Dental Service Providers.

  • Search for the dentists who may be willing to donate their time or discount rates for their services. Dental students from the graduating class of the Dental schools may be candidates for the rural area services.
  • Dental hygienists and/or assistants can be trained & licensed to provide basic dental services such as drillings, fillings, extractions, educating patients, help relieve pain, use anesthetics to name few tasks.

This may help keep the project costs down and encourage dental schools to add such a curriculum in their programs. This type of dental assistant qualifications program is in practice currently for Rural Alaskans. This can be extended globally with the help from respective Governments, United Nations Agencies, Private Organizations and Private donations.

This type of Rural Areas Dental Service is hard, susceptible to the Idiosyncrasies of a given geographical region and commitment of the provider to be subjected to the many negatives such as living facility, working out of tents, school buildings, lack of water to name a few.

Extended Services requires extended research, planning and commitment of Maggie Doynes.**

  • You will not find many Maggie Doynes** around the world to participate in this philanthropic project of helping Children & Adults to receive primary dental services globally. But there will be some who will be willing to join your cause to help make your project a success.
  • ** Google, Maggie Doynes, 29 years old American has built an Orphanage, Women’s center & School in Kopila Valley Nepal situated over 10,000 feet above the Sea Level.
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