University of Alberta launches new dental programme

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The University of Alberta has teamed up with two care facilities in Edmonton to launch a dental hygiene programme, which will cater for patients.

Representatives from the University of Alberta met with members of staff from local care facilities to discuss dental care for patients and five care centres expressed an interest in joining forces with the university. Third year dental hygiene students have now started visiting patients at two facilities in the area, St Joseph’s Auxiliary Hospital and the Jasper Place Continuing Care Centre. There are currently 47 students participating in the dental hygiene outreach programme.

Students from the university visit the care facilities once a week to carry out check-ups and evaluations. Margaret Plaizier, director of the Jasper Place Continuing Care Centre said that they had jumped at the chance of getting help from students, as dental health can be a real concern for patients with long-term illnesses; many of the patients at the facility have dementia and struggle to communicate when they have pain. The weekly visits make a real difference to the patients and help to prevent infections and other illnesses.

Sharon Compton, director of the dental hygiene programme at U of A said that the programme was mutually beneficial, as students learn to care in a setting that they would not usually experience and the patients receive much-needed dental care.

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