Visiting Professional Services

The Dental Program Components:

1. Dental Therapy:

Dental therapists currently work in a number of communities and provide basic clinical care (emergency care, fillings and extractions) as well as oral health promotion and disease prevention activities. They are licensed and regulated by the College of Dental Surgeons of Alberta, and improve access to oral health care, particularly in remote and isolated communities.

2. Children’s Oral Health Initiative (COHI):

COHI is an early childhood tooth decay prevention program designed to support children from birth through age seven, their parents and caregivers, and pregnant women. Services include annual oral health screening, fluoride varnish applications, dental sealants and temporary fillings, as well as oral health promotion education and resources. COHI is delivered in a large number of Canadian communities by teams consisting of a dental professional (either a dental therapist or dental hygienist) and a COHI Aide. The COHI Aide is a community member selected by the community to support the program at the local level. The goal of COHI is to make oral health and oral care a regular part of family life.

Goal

To reduce early childhood tooth decay and develop understanding of long term dental health.

Objectives:

• To enrol all of our eligible children (ages 0 – 7) in our COHI program.
  
• To ensure that all children receive screening and fluoride application as required.
• To provide information and resources to pregnant women, parents, caregivers and childcare service providers to support oral health
• To build partnerships with other agencies and programs to reach more children with oral health services and information.
• To include oral health messages and role model oral health at all community functions and activities.
• To increase the referral and resource information available to us.

Activities:

• Enrol children in COHI on an ongoing basis.
• Screening according to COHI protocol.
• Application of fluoride varnish.
• One on one oral health instruction for children ages 0 – 7 and their parents and caregivers (including pregnant women.)
• Bring oral health information to community and school events.
• Maintain dental health records and data.
• Provide resources and referrals as needed.

Outcomes:

• All eligible children enrolled in COHI and receiving services.
• All pregnant women receiving oral health instruction at least once during pregnancy.
• Reduction in early childhood tooth decay.
• Reduction in need for referral for dental treatment under general anaesthetic.
• Increase in teeth brushing, flossing and “talk” about oral health.
• COHI information shared in all childhood settings.Increased inquiries for information and referrals for oral health.

Our optometrists examine eyes and treat vision problems, usually by prescribing eyeglasses or contact lenses, vision therapy, or rehabilitation programs. They also prescribe medicines to treat some eye diseases and allergies.

Optometrists examine patients’ eyes with several instruments. Retinoscopes, for example, help them see how patients react to lenses of different strengths.

Ophthalmoscopes allow them to see the inside of the eye. Based on their examinations, they make diagnoses such as nearsightedness or farsightedness, and they prescribe lenses or other treatments. If an eye disease is diagnosed that requires surgery, they refer patients to ophthalmologists (physicians who perform eye surgery).

Sometimes optometrists discover eye conditions caused by systemic problems, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, and they refer their patients to other medical doctors.

Health Canada (Non-Insured Health Benefits) is billed independently for these services by the practitioners.

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