Conversation about Oral Health
I attended an Interprofessional Educational Opportunity about oral health with Dr. Romesh Nalliah. The purpose of the conversation was to raise awareness about the effects of oral health and to inspire other health professionals to integrate oral health into their practice. Dr. Nalliah started by making us aware that oral infections could spread to other parts of the body and in extreme cases can even result in death. Dental cases cost hospitals the same amount of money each year that it would cost to build three new hospitals. I personally was not aware of the severity of oral infections and did not realize the impact they could have. Dr. Nalliah’s mission is to inhibit these preventative diseases by educating other health professionals about proper oral health.
Since 80% of dentists are in private practice they aren’t as integrated into the health care system as they should be. It’s important that physicians, physician assistants, nurses, and in some cases physical therapists, can refer a patient to a dentist when necessary. Therefore, it’s important that these professionals can perform a simple oral exam. Dr. Nalliah and his dental students taught us how to be familiar with everyday dental tools and what to look for during an oral exam. It’s so simple to just look inside someone’s mouth and detect whether the mouth is healthy or if an infection is present. These exams could save lives and money. We learned about some of the most common oral diseases, examined pictures, and participated in case studies. Finally, we got to practice on each other by performing hands on oral exams.
I was not aware of how dentists fit into the health system or how oral health could be integrated into other health care professions so I found the experience interesting and rewarding. Although I won’t be taking oral exams in my everyday practice, it’s helpful to be familiar with common diseases so I can refer patients to a dentist if necessary.
I also met a distinguished dentist who has worked all over the world and is currently employed by Harvard University. I interacted with dental students from Harvard and students in Northeastern’s Physician Assistant program, who were required to attend this lecture. It was a great networking opportunity, an educational experience, and an interesting conversation about a topic that I never cared much about.
– Laura Ciano
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