It’s time to brush up on the importance of protecting your pearly whites.
Dental Hygiene students are ushering in the month of April, which is Oral Health Month in Canada, with a virtual campaign to celebrate National Dental Hygienists Week (NDHW) from April 4-10.
All NC Dental Hygiene students are involved. Their mission: to spread awareness about oral health and to celebrate their chosen profession.
Students will be using social media to spread the news about their initiatives throughout the week, with an Instagram page @nc_ndhw_2022, TikToks, infographics, reels, and more. They will also connect with local elementary schools to help teach children about oral health through a colouring contest promoted by the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association.
Their goal for students during NDHW is to reach as many people as possible to let them know about the profession and its integral role in the community. Dental Professor Alaina Gauthier noted that the students seek to educate the public about oral health, the oral-systemic link, dental myths and popular dental trends.
“As dental hygienists, it is our ethical duty to advocate for our profession and for the oral health of our individual clients and the community. This initiative does just that,” said Gauthier. “This allows students to experience firsthand what dental hygiene advocacy entails, and allows them to engage with the community on a much larger scale.”
Through the initiative, students aim to reach as many people as they can to help minimize the fear and anxiety that dentistry elicits in some people.
“I want the NC community to realize that the dental profession is kind, compassionate and eager to help,” said Gauthier. “We look forward to being partners in their care. Our NC Dental Clinic is a perfect place to start.”
Student sink their teeth into the experience
Dental Hygiene student Ashley Klaver holds the ‘toothbrush’ while Madison Page holds the ‘tooth.’
For Dental Hygiene students, their involvement in NDHW ties in with their course on Business Principles. Gauthier noted that student work for the event requires a great deal of organization, leadership, advocacy and social media use, which are all essential in the business world and are important learning outcomes of the course.
While, as clinicians, dental hygienists are experts at one-on-one communication with their clients, the College’s involvement with NDHW encourages students to use different skillsets, which extends their reach to communicate with many people all at once.
“It boosts student communication skills, creativity, and leadership skills, and in my opinion, makes them more well-rounded clinicians,” said Gauthier.
Second-year student Shelby Gardner has been focusing on running the social media page @nc_ndhw_2022 along with two classmates. The experience of preparing for NDHW has been rewarding for Gardner.
“We are able to reach out to the community with oral health information that some individuals may not be aware of which is a great feeling,” said Gardner. “I absolutely love providing oral health promotion to clients and all around.”
Gardner enrolled in the Dental Hygienist program after studying Pre-Health and values the experience she is gaining in the program. She is also providing oral care at the NC Dental Clinic.
“The experiences I have gained in the Dental Hygiene program will help me a lot in my career. I have learned so much about oral health and how to teach clients certain techniques and provide them with information to improve their oral health,” said Gardner. “Teaching clients and promoting oral health is one of those things you do throughout your career, and I couldn’t have done it without the amazing professors here at NC.”
Ashley Klaver, who is in second year of Dental Hygiene and is a Dental Assisting (2020) graduate, is posting ‘favourite things about being a dental hygienist,’ and games and prizes to promote oral health. She also helped to create t-shirts for students participating in NDHW.
The week is an opportunity for students to share their passion for the field and, as future dental hygienists, for their chosen profession.
“Dental is a great career choice as it is health care and helping others understand that your oral health is just as important as the rest of your health,” said Klaver.
Gaining experience in using social media for promotional purposes is a tool that Klaver expects will be beneficial as students move forward in their careers – whether to promote oral health, a new dental office, or dental hygiene in general.
“When people get involved and participate for the prizes, it shows that they are actually interested in the posts that we have worked so hard to create and share with everyone,” said Klaver.
Dental Hygiene students (from left) Emi Younis, Shelby Gardner and Charlene Robichaud get into the spirit of promoting oral health for NDHW.
Support NDHW at NC
The College community is encouraged to follow the @nc_ndhw_2022 on Instagram and visit the NC Dental Clinic. The students will also feature giveaways near the end of the week, including an Oral B electric toothbrush, free dental cleaning at the NC Dental Clinic, a Bellas Healing Beads bracelet gift certificate from the Hairstyling program, and more.
National Dental Hygienists Week
Celebrated annually April 4-10, National Dental Hygienists Week focuses on the importance of maintaining good oral health practices and helping Canadians understand the role and importance of the dental hygiene profession. This annual event is sponsored by the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association. The week’s theme for 2022 is “Oral Health for Total Health” – a reminder that taking care of the mouth, teeth and gums has positive impacts on other aspects of life. For information visit cdha.ca/NDHW. Follow #NDHW22 on social media.
Students are revving up their efforts to promote oral health for NDHW April 4–10. The College community is encouraged to get involved by following @nc_ndhw_2022 on Instagram and visiting the NC Dental Clinic at the Welland Campus.
