Doctor of Nursing Practice Role in Sustaining Oral Health Report

Interventions, which would be effective for prevention at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels, include health education, early diagnosis, and comprehensive nursing care respectively. Health care policy focuses on oral health inequality, and it entails policies concerning diet, smoking, and accessibility of dental services. The DNP has the leadership role in this project, and he should supervise other nurses to ensure that they promote oral health.

The problem

Oral health is a critical issue because it is prevalent yet preventable since people do not value it (Giannobile et al., 2010). People understand the risk factors associated with oral diseases like sugary foods and poor hygiene, yet they do not avoid them (Marilyn, 2007). Oral diseases are common where people cannot access health care because of a lack of finances and restraining cultures (Marya, 2007). Marya (2007) states good oral health contributes to a person wellbeing and quality of life because it protects one from the burdens of oral diseases like cancer and death.

Background

Expectant mothers have low immunity thus vulnerable to oral conditions like periodontal diseases (Kumar, 2008). There is a positive correlation between periodontal diseases and premature birth (Kumar, 2008). Expectant mothers can transmit periodontal bacteria to their fetuses; therefore, they should practice good oral hygiene to prevent the transmissions (McCormick & Siegel, 2009).

Dental caries and gingival diseases are common in children (Powell et al., 2011). Disabled children who require special care are at risk of oral diseases because of the antibiotics included in their treatment regimen and their inability to practice good oral hygiene (Marya, 2007). Oral diseases are prevalent in children because they like consuming sugary foods and they do not practice good oral hygiene, as a result, food particles accumulate on the teeth and favor the growth of periodontal bacteria (Powell et al., 2011).

The prevalence of the oral disease is high in adults because as they age, the gums begin to recede thus exposing them to dental diseases (Brown et al., 2010). Connie & Ritchie (2009) state, osteoporosis which is common in adults is associated with periodontal diseases and people need to consume calcium supplements to reduce the risks of oral diseases (Brown et al., 2010). Dry mouth is common in adults and it increases the risk of oral diseases because inadequate saliva does not wash away all bacteria (Connie & Ritchie, 2009).

Children suffer from oral diseases because of poor home care or inaccessible dental services and as a result, they miss classes because of the pain associated with dental caries and periodontal diseases (Marya, 2007). There is an association between poor oral health and poor performance at school as well as social interaction (Powell et al., 2011). When a child does not attend classes, the probability of unsuccessful future increases and he becomes frustrated (Marya, 2007).

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Oral diseases in adults affect their well-being because dental decay has a positive correlation with heart, pulmonary and lung conditions (Brown et al. 2010). It also affects the ability of a person to get and sustain employment because one is always off work to seek medical attention (Connie & Ritchie, 2009). Brown et al., (2010) state, employed people in the United States lose approximately two hundred million hours per year because of oral diseases.

Significance

Oral health is important because it has a link to the general well-being of a person thus affecting the prevalence and incidences of chronic conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases (Giannobile et al., 2010). Many researchers have conducted studies to establish the link between oral health and the overall well-being of a person. Marya (2007) states, oral health is beyond healthy teeth and oral examination can identify diseases like anemia, injuries, and cancer, which are in other parts of the body. Marilyn (2007) states oral lesions can determine the progression of HIV to AIDs, sexually transmitted HP-16 virus causes oral cancer, and dry mouth is an indication of Sjogren syndrome or side effects of medications.

Oral health disease can deteriorate a person’s well-being because it can spread to the entire body. Health care professionals have detected periodontal bacteria in samples removed from brain abscesses, pulmonary and cardiovascular tissues (Giannobile et al., 2010). Oral conditions are associated with diabetes, hypertension, and coronary heart disease (Marilyn, 2007). Good oral health can alleviate the problem of painful cavities and prevent people with chronic disea

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