National Dental Hygiene week kicks off on Friday April 4th and runs through until Thursday April 10th.
Dez Bair-Patel ,CEO of The Integrated Health Centre here in Pembroke explains what’s important about observing dental hygiene week this year:
Bair-Patel and Independent Dental Hygienist Phyllis Bertrand both agree that emphasizing the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene for overall well-being is crucial. During this week, dental hygienists across the country engage with communities to promote the message that caring for our teeth and gums impacts more than just our mouths.
A lot of people have a deep seated fear of coming to the dentist or hygienist and Phyllis explains how their approach addresses that fact and how they help patients overcome their trepidation:
Dental hygiene ranks as the sixth-largest regulated health profession in Canada. Dental hygienists are integral primary health care providers, delivering services across various settings, including independent dental hygiene practices, and catering to individuals of all ages. Their scope of practice encompasses assessing teeth and adjacent tissues, and providing preventive and therapeutic treatments.
Since 2021, the Integrated Health Centre has been working diligently to keep their patients mouths healthy but Bertrand explains that it goes beyond clean teeth when it comes to the services they offer:
Among the many salient points both Bair-Patel and Bertrand discussed heading into dental Hygiene week is the fact that they can offer a proactive approach to dental challenges before they even occur which Bair-Patel reminds us is key to avoiding serious health problems down the road:
To learn more this week and anytime throughout the year, visit www.intergratedhealthcentre.ca or come on in to their location at 570 Nelson Street in Pembroke.
(Written by: Richard Evans)
