Question

After 2 years in private practice, your concerns for unmet oral health care needs prompt you to join the Indian Health Service. As part of an initial 3-month internship you are assigned to work with teachers in an understaffed school (grades 2 through 12). The primary goal is to assist in incorporating oral health concepts and practices into the curriculum for this community's Native American students. The school has two classrooms for each grade, with approximately 30 to 40 students per grade. There is one teacher for each classroom, with an occasional volunteer parent who serves as a teacher's aide. While doing some initial research you learn that this region is nonfluoridated and you find no evidence of school-based fluoride programs. Also disconcerting, in many Native American tribes 37% of both male and female students, grades 7 to 12, use spit tobacco. While you are unable to locate numerical values to document alcohol abuse in this age group, extensive literature reports it as prevalent.

Answer 1

Your primary goal within the Indian Health Service is to integrate oral health concepts into the curriculum for Native American students in an understaffed school (grades 2 through 12) by working closely with teachers. Given the absence of fluoridated resources and prevalent use of spit tobacco among older students, your task involves not only education but also the implementation of preventive measures to address oral health and substance abuse challenges within this community.

Step-by-step explanation:

Joining the Indian Health Service after private practice reflects a commitment to addressing unmet oral health needs in underserved communities. In this scenario, the goal is to collaborate with teachers in an understaffed school to introduce oral health concepts into the curriculum for Native American students, spanning from grades 2 through 12.

With classrooms having around 30 to 40 students per grade, the initiative involves integrating oral health education and preventive measures due to the non-fluoridated environment and the prevalence of spit tobacco use among 37% of older students. The task extends beyond education, necessitating practical solutions to combat oral health challenges and substance abuse within this specific cultural context.

Addressing these issues will require strategic planning, collaboration with local authorities, and community involvement to implement effective oral health education and preventive programs. Additionally, tackling substance abuse, including alcohol, will need tailored interventions considering the prevalence reported in literature among Native American communities. Your role extends beyond basic dental care to advocating for comprehensive health initiatives to promote well-being among these students.