A recent partnership has helped provide children in a Prince George elementary school with preventive dental services in a welcoming environment.
CNC’s dental hygiene students have provided care to more than 60 students of Nusdeh Yoh Elementary School, the Aboriginal Choice Program school in the city. The school worked with families to identify students who have limited means to access dental care.
Amanda P., a parent of an elementary student who participated, was ecstatic about the experience.
"You need to make sure this program runs forever. It's not only good for people living in poverty, but even for the middle people. Everything's so expensive nowadays and if you don't have benefits, there is no way you can pay for dental. My kids also said they had fun - how weird is that?!"
“We wanted to provide children access to high-quality care to support their health. But a big part of that involves building trust between families with health providers. That trust has to be earned through respectful and non-judgmental relationships,” said Jennifer Scott, the program coordinator for CNC’s dental hygiene program.
“We worked closely with hygiene students to help them understand how racism has impacted patients’ and families’ experiences in health care, and their need to look inward to end racism and discrimination while building trust.”
The dental hygiene students worked closely with young patients, supported by the supervision of dental hygiene faculty and a faculty dentist. The care services provided including fluoride, sealants, cleanings, and dental education.
"It was amazing to see first-hand the change in the demeanor of the children from their initial entry into the dental operatory compared to their demeanor by the end of the appointment," shared dental hygiene student, Lyndsy Froese.
"This change exemplified the positive changes dental hygienists can make to the perceptions and assumptions of dental care by indigenous patients".
The college and school worked within their existing services to pilot the program. The program received support from Colgate’s community preventive dental health program.
“The excitement of the children has been wonderful. We had one child who took home a toothbrushing chart that he has since filled out every day to chart his progress. We hope every child can have as good an experience,” said Jennifer.
CNC and Nusdeh Yoh Elementary School will be working together to support future options to provide dental care for students.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Christine Midgley, Content and Media Relations Officer
midgleyc2@cnc.bc.ca