MPH, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 2009 / Introduction: There are high levels of dental caries, gingival and periodontal diseases and a lack of oral health awareness in the wider South African population. Thus every district’s oral health strategy must include disease prevention and health promotion approach. Oral hygienists are the main drivers of these services in the public sector. Aim: To determine the activities of oral hygienists in the public sector in Gauteng and KwaZulu – Natal provinces. Objectives: 1) To obtain the demographic profile of oral hygienists employed in Gauteng and KwaZulu -Natal provinces. 2) To determine their current duties, tasks and responsibilities. 3) To identify factors that may hinder the provision of services. Methods: This was a cross sectional descriptive study and data was collected by means of a self administered questionnaire that was hand delivered to all oral hygienists employed in Gauteng and in KwaZulu - Natal provinces in 2005. Results: Thirty two oral hygienists (78%) responded to the questionnaire, 94% of whom were female with an average age of 37 years. Twenty three (72%) were Black, 6 (19%) White, 2 (6%) Indian and 1 (3%) Coloured, with an average iv working experience of 10 years. Almost half (47%) were employed as chief, 16% as senior and 37% as junior oral hygienist. Almost all (94%) complained of poor salaries and 78% said that there were no opportunities for promotion. Oral hygienists performed both clinic-based and community-based services. The majority (95%) of the community-based services was preventive; the most common preventive services being rendered to the community was oral health education (84%), brushing programs (75%) and examination, charting and screening (69%). Seventy seven percent (77%) of clinic-based services included preventive procedures the most common being scaling and polishing or root planing (88%), examination and charting (84%) and oral hygiene instructions (75%). The majority of oral hygienists (94%) worked in the public sector to provide a service to the community. Seventy six percent (76%) had experiences that hindered the provision of services. Almost all (97%) wanted to study further, the main area of interest being the dental field. Conclusion: It is evident that the duties, tasks and responsibilities of oral hygienists in both KZN and GP include activities associated predominantly with the prevention and control of oral diseases and oral health promotion. In South Africa, a decline in oral diseases (dental caries and periodontal diseases) can be achieved by enhancing the use of oral hygienists in the public sector.

<p>Syftet med studien var att belysa hur tandhygienisten uppfattar att den egna kompetensen används inom Folktandvården. Studien är kvalitativ och innefattas av intervjuer med tio legitimerade tandhygienister som är verksamma inom allmäntandvården. Intervjuerna har skett med hjälp av en intervjuguide. Intervjuerna spelades in på kasettband och varade i ca 10-20 minuter. Bearbetningen av intervjumaterialet har skett, gemensamt av de båda författarna och analyserades enligt en kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Resultatet av studien visar att majoriteten av intervjupersonerna uppfattar att deras kompetens utnyttjas till fullo. Uppfattningen av kompetensutnyttjandet är subjektiv och säger inget om hur kompetensutnyttjandet verkligen är. Trots att intervjupersonerna känner en tillfredställelse angående deras kompetensutnyttjande nämns en rad inre och yttre faktorer som visar på motsatsen, så som tandhygienistens egen inställning till hur kompetensen utnyttjas, drivkraften till vidare utveckling inom yrket, övriga personalens inställning till tandhygienistens kompetens, arbetsplatsmiljö och möjligheten till att själv kunna påverka sin arbetssituation. Studien visar också att tandhygienisterna uppfattar att tandhygienistyrket behöver tydliggöras mer och att tandläkarnas kännedom om tandhygienistens behörighet och kompetens behöver förbättras. Förslag till fortsatt forskning är att studera det verkliga kompetensutnyttjandet hos legitimerade tandhygienister och inte bara uppfattningen.</p> / <p>The aim of this study was to examine how the dental hygienist perceive that their formal competence is used in the national dental health service. The study is qualitative and include interviews with ten registered dental hygienists who work in the national dental health service.  The interviews were conducted with the support of an interview guide. The interviews were recorded and lasted approximately 10-20 minutes and were analysed with a qualiative contentanalysis. The result of the study shows that the majority of the participants perceive that their competens is used to its fullest. The experience is subjective and says nothing aboute  the objektive use. Even though the participants felt a satisfaction regarding their competence use, a number of interior and exterior factors show the contrary, such as the own attitude towards how the competence is used, the motive to further development within the profession, the staffs attitude towards the dental hygienist competence, workenviroment and the ability to influence their own worksituation. The study also shows that the dental hygienist perceive that the dental hygienist profession needs to be clarified and the dentists knowledge about the qualification and competence of dental hygienists needs to be improved. Further research regarding the objective competence use needs to be done regarding the dental hygienist profession.</p>

Syftet med studien var att belysa hur tandhygienisten uppfattar att den egna kompetensen används inom Folktandvården. Studien är kvalitativ och innefattas av intervjuer med tio legitimerade tandhygienister som är verksamma inom allmäntandvården. Intervjuerna har skett med hjälp av en intervjuguide. Intervjuerna spelades in på kasettband och varade i ca 10-20 minuter. Bearbetningen av intervjumaterialet har skett, gemensamt av de båda författarna och analyserades enligt en kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Resultatet av studien visar att majoriteten av intervjupersonerna uppfattar att deras kompetens utnyttjas till fullo. Uppfattningen av kompetensutnyttjandet är subjektiv och säger inget om hur kompetensutnyttjandet verkligen är. Trots att intervjupersonerna känner en tillfredställelse angående deras kompetensutnyttjande nämns en rad inre och yttre faktorer som visar på motsatsen, så som tandhygienistens egen inställning till hur kompetensen utnyttjas, drivkraften till vidare utveckling inom yrket, övriga personalens inställning till tandhygienistens kompetens, arbetsplatsmiljö och möjligheten till att själv kunna påverka sin arbetssituation. Studien visar också att tandhygienisterna uppfattar att tandhygienistyrket behöver tydliggöras mer och att tandläkarnas kännedom om tandhygienistens behörighet och kompetens behöver förbättras. Förslag till fortsatt forskning är att studera det verkliga kompetensutnyttjandet hos legitimerade tandhygienister och inte bara uppfattningen. / The aim of this study was to examine how the dental hygienist perceive that their formal competence is used in the national dental health service. The study is qualitative and include interviews with ten registered dental hygienists who work in the national dental health service.  The interviews were conducted with the support of an interview guide. The interviews were recorded and lasted approximately 10-20 minutes and were analysed with a qualiative contentanalysis. The result of the study shows that the majority of the participants perceive that their competens is used to its fullest. The experience is subjective and says nothing aboute  the objektive use. Even though the participants felt a satisfaction regarding their competence use, a number of interior and exterior factors show the contrary, such as the own attitude towards how the competence is used, the motive to further development within the profession, the staffs attitude towards the dental hygienist competence, workenviroment and the ability to influence their own worksituation. The study also shows that the dental hygienist perceive that the dental hygienist profession needs to be clarified and the dentists knowledge about the qualification and competence of dental hygienists needs to be improved. Further research regarding the objective competence use needs to be done regarding the dental hygienist profession.

Aim of the study. To evaluate the opinion of odontologists concerning the need for oral hygienists in Kaunas. Methods. Odontologists, working privately and in public institutions, were asked to fill in the anonymous questionnaires. 216 questionnaires were distributed to odontologists and 200 odontologists responded (response rate 92,6%). The data was analysed by SPSS 11.0 for Windows statistical software. Chi square and z criterions were used to evaluate relations between the variables. Results. Almost all odontologists (94.5%) indicated that there is a need for oral hygienist, i.e., they would like to work together. However only 40.9% of them affirmed, that oral hygienists are full time employed in their institution. Majority of odontologists (87.3%) noted, that it is important to work with oral hygienist because of the better image and financial profit. When odontologist and oral hygienist started working together, patients’ health status of oral cavity improved, odontologist’s work became easier, and patients’ attitude towards the oral hygiene has changed. Comparison of the responses of odontologists, working privately and in public institutions, revealed that oral hygienists are employed almost in all public institutions (97%) and only in half of private offices (p<0.05). Expensive maintenance was indicated by private odontologists as the reason, why oral hygienists are not employed, therefore majority of odontologists (69.1%) perform oral hygiene by themselves. Private... [to full text]

<p>Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate former dental hygienist students’ view regarding their education at Kristianstad University.Material and methods: This quantitative study was descriptive and the data collection method was used by a questionnaire. This was sent by post to former dental hygienist students at Kristianstad University. In total, 57 dental hygienists participated in the study.Result: The majority of the respondents (94 %, n=54) were content with their education. The education’s primary strength turned out to be the clinical activity that is conducted while at the same time there was a wish for more practice. The content in the dental hygienist education at Kristianstad University is corresponding to the requirements in the profession including oral health science according to the majority of the respondents.Conclusion: The clinical activity that is conducted both at external dental clinics and at the dental clinic at the college has a high significance for the prospective dental hygienist’s career.Keywords: alumnus, dental hygienist, dental hygienist education, knowledge, skills description</p>

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate former dental hygienist students’ view regarding their education at Kristianstad University.Material and methods: This quantitative study was descriptive and the data collection method was used by a questionnaire. This was sent by post to former dental hygienist students at Kristianstad University. In total, 57 dental hygienists participated in the study.Result: The majority of the respondents (94 %, n=54) were content with their education. The education’s primary strength turned out to be the clinical activity that is conducted while at the same time there was a wish for more practice. The content in the dental hygienist education at Kristianstad University is corresponding to the requirements in the profession including oral health science according to the majority of the respondents.Conclusion: The clinical activity that is conducted both at external dental clinics and at the dental clinic at the college has a high significance for the prospective dental hygienist’s career.Keywords: alumnus, dental hygienist, dental hygienist education, knowledge, skills description

Bakgrund: Ortodontisk behandling utförs vanligtvis på ungdomar och kan innebära en risk för den orala hälsan. Studier har visat att patienter med fast apparatur löper större risk att utveckla svullen gingiva och karies. Syfte: Syftet med studien är att undersöka tandvårdspersonalens rutiner kring munhygien hos patienter med fast apparatur på ortodontikliniker. Metod: Studien är en kvantitativ tvärsnittsstudie i form av en enkät med 11 frågor. Enkäten skickades till fyra ortodontikliniker i fyra olika län i södra Sverige. Enkäten innehöll frågor gällande munhygien-rutiner och tandhygienistprofessionen. Sammanlagt 59 personer tillfrågades delta i studien. Resultat: Enkäten besvarades av 38 personer. Resultatet visade att majoriteten av deltagarna in-struerade munhygieninstruktion vid insättning av fast apparatur och vid uppvisad dålig munhy-gien. Samtliga deltagare instruerade munhygien på patienten och större delen gav även samtal och uppföljning. Gällande tandhygienistprofessionen har majoriteten av klinikerna inte någon tandhygienist anställd. Av samtliga deltagare ansåg 29% (n=11) att det skulle vara bra att ha en tandhygienist anställd på ortodontikliniker och 45% (n=17) såg behov av kontakt. Slutsats: Det fanns inte några större skillnader mellan professionerna och klinikerna gällande munhygienru-tiner och hur de utförs. Nästan hälften av deltagarna såg behov av kontakt med tandhygienist vid insättning av fast apparatur och vid munhygieninstruktion. / Background: Orthodontic treatment is usually performed on adolescents and increase risks for the oral health. Studies have shown that patients with fixed appliances more likely develop gingival enlargement and caries. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the dental pro-fessional’s routines including oral hygiene in patients with fixed appliances on orthodontic clin-ics. Method: The study was a quantitative cross-sectional study with questionnaire regarding 11 questions. The questionnaire was sent to four orthodontic clinics in four counties in southern Sweden and contained questions regarding oral hygiene routines and dental hygienists. Alto-gether 59 individuals were asked to participate. Results: The questionnaire was answered by 38 individuals. The result showed that the majority gave oral hygiene instructions at insertion of fixed appliances and when oral hygiene was poor. All participants practice oral hygiene in-structions on patients and almost everyone had conversations and follow-up visits. The majority of clinics didn´t have dental hygienists employed. Of all participants 29% (n=11) thought it would be good to have dental hygienists employed and 45% (n=17) saw need of contact. Conclusion: No major differences between professions and clinics were shown regarding oral hy-giene routines and performance. Almost half of the participants saw need of contact with dental hygienists.

Diet related factors are associated with the 2 most prevalent oral diseases- caries and periodontal disease. Furthermore, there is growing evidence of a synergistic link between nutrition, systemic health, and oral health. Regardless of this evidence and in spite of recommendations by dental associations, researchers have shown the majority of dental professionals are consistently excluding nutritional screenings and dietary counseling in their dental services. The purpose of this study was to examine the nutritional screening and dietary counseling practices of Utah dental hygienists and to evaluate possible associations between various factors influencing the implementation of nutritional services. Surveys were collected from members of the Utah Dental Hygienists’ Association. Mean scores showed low frequency and low confidence levels in performing nutritional services and high perceptions of barriers to care. Little to no difference in mean scores occurred when differentiating between degree achievements, years in dental hygiene practice, or component affiliation.

Dental hygiene students may struggle in dental hygiene curriculum in regards to hand function. Currently, this is not an aspect dental hygiene programs screen for or have protocol in place to help students. The research in the study examined if hand function could improve with hand function exercises and if exercises improved instrumentation scores. During a 6-week pilot study, an occupational therapist tested the hand function of a cohort of dental hygiene students. The results were recorded and the students began a 6-week hand function exercise regimen. After 6 weeks the same evaluations were preformed and the pre- and posttest data were compared. Statistical tests showed a significant improvement in hand function. After the hand function testing was complete, the scores of the cohort on the periodontal probe and 11/12 explorer were compared to students in the previous 5 cohorts. No significant improvement was made on the instrumentation scores.

The aim of the study was to examine the competence of dental hygienists among Clinic Director´s within the Public Dental Service and Private dentists in the county of Skåne . The study was quantitative and consisted of an electronic questionnaire sent out to all Clinic Directors in the county of Skåne. A total of five hundred and thirty eight questionnaires were sent out. The inclusion criteria were the Clinic directors who employed dental hygienists who had obtained their professional degree during the last four years. Twenty nine Clinic directors responded to the study. The results showed that in general clinic directors are pleased and feel that dental hygienists are proficient in periodontology and dental caries diagnostics. There were two clinic directors who felt that dental hygienists should have more knowledge in the fields of endodontics and pedodontics. The Clinic directors were asked if they wanted to add a certain skill or specialty to the competence of dental hygienists. Two of the clinic directors said that they would like to see dental hygienists be able to measure blood and sugar levels if needed. In conclusion, this study shows that most of the clinic directors thought that the dental hygienists had good knowledge and skills within their operating range. The result of this study must be interpreted with caution because of the low response rate. / Syftet med studien var att undersöka vad klinikchefer inom Folktandvården i Region Skåne och Privattandläkarna i Skåne län ansåg om tandhygienistens kompetens. Studien var kvantitativ och bestod av en elektronisk enkät som skickades ut till samtliga klinikchefer inom Folktandvården och Privattandläkarna i Skåne län. Det skickades ut totalt 538 enkäter. Inklusionskriterierna var de klinikchefer som anställt en tandhygienist som tagit sin yrkesexamen under de senaste fyra åren. Tjugonio klinikchefer besvarade enkäten. Resultatet av studien visade att klinikcheferna ansåg tandhygienisten kunnig inom parodontologi och kariesdiagnostik. Det var två klinikchefer som önskade att tandhygienisten skulle ha ökad kompetens inom endodonti och pedodonti. Klinikcheferna fick svara på en fråga i enkäten om de önskade lägga till något i tandhygienistens kompetensområde och där svarade två klinikchefer att blodsocker- och blodtrycksmätning skulle ingå i tandhygienistens kompetensområde. Slutsatsen av studien visar att merparten av klinikcheferna ansåg att tandhygienisterna hade bra kompetens inom sitt arbetsområde. På grund av låg svarsfrekvens måste reultatet tolkas med stor försiktighet.