Clinical/Patient Experience

When choosing my patient for the practice case doc for Theory, I choose a patient who was diagnosed with down syndrome.  I had never treated a patient who presented with this condition and was interested to see how the syndrome affected the individual’s oral health, hygiene practice, and how I would need to modify my treatment.  I did some research before seeing my patient and learned that down syndrome can contribute to significant oral health effects and impact dental hygiene care by limited intellect and physical inabilities.  Periodontal disease and caries are the most significant oral health problems in people with down syndrome.  Xerostomia, mouth breathing, enlarged tongue, malocclusion, bruxism, poor oral hygiene, and conical-shaped roots can also be common negative contributing factors of the syndrome, which the patient is experiencing.  My patient was accompanied by her mother, who is solely responsible for her daughter’s oral hygiene.  The patient did report however, that she did brush her front teeth occasionally.

When using the cavitron to implement debridement, my patient reported feeling as though she was drowning, and she suffered from a severe gag reflex.  I had to cavitron two teeth a time, could not seat my patient fully back, and I placed warm water in the water bottle to decrease sensitivity.

I had a really positive experience with this patient and I learned a lot.  Many factors and conditions can contribute negatively to a patient’s current oral health.  It is my professional responsibility as a hygienist to not only identify these conditions, but to provide the upmost quality of care to restore current decay, prevent further disease, and to give patients the knowledge and skills to best suit his/her individual needs.  Each patient requires customized care by addressing current conditions and risk factors that could be contributing to his/her oral health.  I learned that no matter what condition the patient presents, every patient deserves customized quality care.  I also learned that I need not fear or be intimidated by conditions I am unfamiliar with.  My patient was the sweetest person imaginable.  I learned that it is not only important to inform the patient what you are doing step by step, but to tell the care-taker as well, especially in regards to at-home oral hygiene practices.