Title: Engaging in community initiatives: A dentists experience from a West London Borough
Abstract:
As a dentist at the Hillingdon Community Dental Referral Service, the author treated the dental needs of patients that required special care dentistry. The author also learned more about epidemiology, dental public health strategies, and the demographics of the West London Borough of Hillingdon. The author was concerned about Hillingdon’s high levels of caries exceeding that of the national average, and that Hillingdon has the second highest rate of caries in five-year olds within London. The author felt a need to help raise awareness of the importance of good oral health within the community. Taking an active interest in the work of dental health educators, the author volunteered to collaborate with them. On Friday 17th November 2017, the author and senior dental health educator partook in a school visit to Pinkwell Primary School in the town of Hayes. Informal, lively and interactive lessons were given to each class, targeting the varying age groups. The aim was to show the children that the dentist is not an intimidating figure, and is instead, caring and approachable. By networking with general dental practitioners in Hillingdon, a general dental practitioner based in Hayes was able to share their worries about the poor dental health of their many patients. Together with this general dental practitioner, the author and senior dental health educator implemented an oral health awareness event at Hayes Town Mosque on Friday 5th January 2018. This event took place during Friday prayers, enabling interactions with as many worshippers as possible. It has been reported that the prevalence of dental caries related to long-term bottle use is higher in Hillingdon than the national average. Thus, the author and senior dental health educator held a ‘bottle-to-cup’ themed event on Friday 29th June 2018 at Coteford Childrens’ Centre in the town of Eastcote. The aim of this initiative was to educate pregnant persons, parents and caregivers on caries prevention in babies, infants and children. During National Heart Month in February 2019, the author and a dental health educator participated in the annual Uxbridge Health Fair, which took place at Uxbridge Library in the town of Uxbridge on Friday 1st February 2019. Visitors were welcomed to the dental stall; they were provided with oral hygiene and preventative advice, answers to dental questions, and offered free dental samples. The aim of such event was to stress upon the link between poor periodontal health and heart disease. Such initiatives enable increased interactions or touchpoints with members of the community. Multichannel marketing, thus occurs, which can be beneficial for dental organisations. To help improve the oral health of Hillingdon’s young and old, the author has experienced the importance of collaborating with other stakeholders and going beyond the immediate clinical setting. Tackling Hillingdon’s high level of caries is likely to require huge efforts. However, as per Helen Keller’s quote: “I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble.”
