Introduction
Oral diseases are prevalent yet preventable (Giannobile et al., 2010). It is high in pregnant women because physiological changes like a decrease in immunity predispose them to infections (Kumar, 2008), children because they like consuming sugary foods (Powell et al., 2011), and adults because of age related changes like osteoporosis (Brown et al., 2010). The effect of oral diseases on children is poor school performance (Marya, 2007) and deteriorated life on adults (Brown et al., 2010). Oral health is important because of its link with general wellbeing thus affecting the prevalence and incidences of chronic conditions like diabetes.
Interventions, which would be effective for prevention at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels, include health education, early diagnosis, and comprehensive nursing care respectively. Health care policy focuses on oral health inequality, and it entails policies concerning diet, smoking, and accessibility of dental services. The DNP has the leadership role in this project, and he should supervise other nurses to ensure that they promote oral health.
The problem
Oral health is a critical issue because it is prevalent yet preventable since people do not value it (Giannobile et al., 2010). People understand the risk factors associated with oral diseases like sugary foods and poor hygiene, yet they do not avoid them (Marilyn, 2007). Oral diseases are common where people cannot access health care because of a lack of finances and restraining cultures (Marya, 2007). Marya (2007) states good oral health contributes to a person wellbeing and quality of life because it protects one from the burdens of oral diseases like cancer and death.
Background
Expectant mothers have low immunity thus vulnerable to oral conditions like periodontal diseases (Kumar, 2008). There is a positive correlation between periodontal diseases and premature birth (Kumar, 2008). Expectant mothers can transmit periodontal bacteria to their fetuses; therefore, they should practice good oral hygiene to prevent the transmissions (McCormick & Siegel, 2009).
Dental caries and gingival diseases are common in children (Powell et al., 2011). Disabled children who require special care are at risk of oral diseases because of the antibiotics included in their treatment regimen and their inability to practice good oral hygiene (Marya, 2007). Oral diseases are prevalent in children because they like consuming sugary foods and they do not practice good oral hygiene, as a result, food particles accumulate on the teeth and favor the growth of periodontal bacteria (Powell et al., 2011).
The prevalence of the oral disease is high in adults because as they age, the gums begin to recede thus exposing them to dental diseases (Brown et al., 2010). Connie & Ritchie (2009) state, osteoporosis which is common in adults is associated with periodontal diseases and people need to consume calcium supplements to reduce the risks of oral diseases (Brown et al., 2010). Dry mouth is common in adults and it increases the risk of oral diseases because inadequate saliva does not wash away all bacteria (Connie & Ritchie, 2009).
Children suffer from oral diseases because of poor home care or inaccessible dental services and as a result, they miss classes because of the pain associated with dental caries and periodontal diseases (Marya, 2007). There is an association between poor oral health and poor performance at school as well as social interaction (Powell et al., 2011). When a child does not attend classes, the probability of unsuccessful future increases and he becomes frustrated (Marya, 2007).
Oral diseases in adults affect their well-being because dental decay has a positive correlation with heart, pulmonary and lung conditions (Brown et al. 2010). It also affects the ability of a person to get and sustain employment because one is always off work to seek medical attention (Connie & Ritchie, 2009). Brown et al., (2010) state, employed people in the United States lose approximately two hundred million hours per year because of oral diseases.
Significance
Oral health is important because it has a link to the general well-being of a person thus affecting the prevalence and incidences of chronic conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases (Giannobile et al., 2010). Many researchers have conducted studies to establish the link between oral health and the overall well-being of a person. Marya (2007) states, oral health is beyond healthy teeth and oral examination can identify diseases like anemia, injuries, and cancer, which are in other parts of the body. Marilyn (2007) states oral lesions can determine the progression of HIV to AIDs, sexually transmitted HP-16 virus causes oral cancer, and dry mouth is an indication of Sjogren syndrome or side effects of medications.
Oral health disease can deteriorate a person’s well-being because it can spread to the entire body. Health care professionals have detected periodontal bacteria in samples removed from brain abscesses, pulmonary and cardiovascular tissues (Giannobile et al., 2010). Oral conditions are associated with diabetes, hypertension, and coronary heart disease (Marilyn, 2007). Good oral health can alleviate the problem of painful cavities and prevent people with chronic diseases like diabetes from developing critical conditions.
Prevention
Health education would be effective for the prevention of oral diseases at the primary level because when people have the appropriate knowledge, they will be able to take care of their health. Health education would cover a variety of topics depending on the groups of people. Expectant mothers would be educated about oral hygiene, the importance of visiting a dentist, and the care of infants. Oral hygiene is important for pregnant women because it reduces the risk of transmission of periodontal bacteria to unborn children (Ireland, 2007). Expectant mothers should visit dentists so that their teeth are examined for dental decays and appropriate measures taken before the conditions spread to the entire body (Brunner et al. 2010).
Mothers should take care when tasting the infants’ food because it can be a source of bacteria transmissions to the infants (LeMone and Burke, 2008). Children would be educated about the care of the teeth and nutrition and it would include the importance of brushing the teeth after every meal. They would also be encouraged to avoid sugary food because it put them at risk of dental decay. Adults’ health education would focus on dental checkups because many people do not value oral health (Ireland, 2007). They would be educated about the importance of dental screening and early treatment.
Early diagnosis with treatment would be effective for prevention at the secondary level because it would help stop the progression of dental disease. Early diagnosis includes a screening of people to determine if they have oral diseases (LeMone and Burke, 2008). It would include physical examination followed by oral screening. Physical examination is important because it assists in the detection of conditions like malnutrition and anemia, which predispose a person to oral diseases (LeMone and Burke, 2008). Oral screening assists in the detection of dental decay and periodontal diseases before they spread to other parts of the body (Ireland, 2007). In case an oral disease is detected during the assessment process, treatment like filling the cavities, tooth replacement, and dental sealant application would be initiated because they prevent the exacerbation of oral diseases by stopping the spread of infections and damages (Brunner et al., 2010).
Comprehensive nursing care would be effective for prevention at the tertiary level because it would assist in limiting disabilities. The care would begin by assessments of the people with oral diseases to determine the extent of the conditions (Brunner et al., 2010). In case the oral disease is in the early stages, interventions would include fixing false teeth as it facilitates chewing and canal treatment because it alleviates pain (Ireland, 2007). In case the oral disease has spread to other parts of the body, it would be treated symptomatically. For instance, the patient would be given antibiotics to stop the spread of infection to other parts of the body or analgesics to minimize pain.
Contribution towards health care policy
The alleviation of disparities in oral health will be through the creation of an effective health care policy because treatment can never address the issue adequately. Over the last few years, oral health has improved because of social, economic as well as environmental factors (Curtis & Craig, 2008). To minimize the gaps in oral health, a focused health care policy is required. There is a need for the integration of health promotion policies in the existing health care policy. The ministry of public health needs to create a policy concerning diet and nutrition. People should not consume sugary foods and there should be a prescribed school and home diet.
A policy concerning smoking is important because there is an association between smoking and the onset of periodontal diseases as well as oral cancer (Curtis & Craig, 2008). People should not smoke if they want to reduce their chances of developing oral disorders. Health care professionals should lobby for policies concerning disparities in oral health. Some of the policies include making health care geographically accessible and reducing the cost of dental treatment.
The role of DNP in this project
The essential role of the DNP in this project is Leadership. Leadership is the role of ruling others and making sure that they are doing the right activities that are in line with the set objective (Marquis and Huston, 2009) which is oral health promotion. The DNP should supervise all the activities at the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels and provide corrective measures. The DNP should ensure that patients receive the right education, screening, treatment, and comprehensive care. In case of any mistake, the DNP should provide corrective measures like training the other nurses so that they acquire the necessary skills.
Conclusion
Oral disease is a topic of concern because it is prevalent yet preventable since people do not value it (Giannobile et al., 2010). It is prevalent in all groups of people, and it has effects that range from low quality of life to death (Marilyn, 2007). Prevention strategies are important and they include health education, screening, treatment, and comprehensive nursing care. To promote oral health, the DNP should lead and supervise other nurses to ensure that they implement the right interventions.
References
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