One of my most significant clinical experience occurred in the dental hygiene clinic earlier in the semester. This semester, my scaling technique, patient communication, and knowledge based skills increased. However, one of the most valuable lessons I learned is that “life happens.” My patient arrived for her dental visit after not visiting for two years. She was very cheerful and friendly and enjoyed talking about her three daughters. According to her record, she had a history of generally good oral health and home care. When I began the intra-oral extra-oral exam I noticed a moderate to heavy calculus buildup, especially around the linguals of sextant five. Furthermore gingival and periodontal assessments confirmed that there had been some recent neglect in homecare. Later on in her appointment, she opened up to me and informed me that she was recovering from dealing with the death of both of her parents in the past year. I quickly put two and two together and recognized that this tragedy was affecting her overall health. She was focused on other things and could not put the time and effort into her overall health. My patient informed me that things in her life were picking up and that she was committed to getting her oral health back on track. I was very sympathetic about the situation and praised her for her commitment. I ensured her that she was in good hands and that would review some ways to make her oral habits easier and mold to her life. Sometimes, we need a little reminder that patients have lives too that do not revolve around our dental chair. Daily brushing and flossing may be low on a patients priority list if they are experiencing difficult times in their lives including, but not limited to deaths, sick children, divorces, financial issues, and unemployment. It is important to praise them for their efforts and educate them with ways that work in their schedules and lifestyles for the best results.
No comments:
Post a Comment