I have been in my new job at Your Community Health for two weeks. I am the new Oral Health Team Manager – which means I work closely with the brilliant team of health professionals who look after your teeth, gums and dentures.
I have met so many new people and have begun to understand how all these roles fit together to make this vibrant organisation. I has been a great opportunity to see how we work behind the scenes to make your visit a pleasant one. I wanted to share a few of these things with you today.
1. A large, dedicated team is here for you.
Did you know that there are around 50 people working in the dental team? That is a lot of names for me to learn! There are:
- Dental Hygienists – Are trained to provide teeth cleaning and preventative dental treatment to all age groups
- Dental Therapists – Are trained to provide general and preventative dental treatment for children and young adults. With additional training, Dental Therapists can also treat adults.
- Dental Assistants – They provide support to both the clinicians and our clients. They are responsible for cleaning and sterilising all equipment and importantly make the clinic run smoothly.
- Oral Health Educator – Is a Dental Assistant with additional training to provide one-on-one, family and group education to improve your brushing, flossing and diet just to name a few.
- Prosthetists – Are trained to make, fit and provide support for the care of dentures (false teeth).
- Dentists – Who you are probably most familiar with, are trained to provide general and preventative treatment to people of all ages.
The team sees up to 120 people of all ages, every day.
I have been so impressed with the team’s dedication to their patients. They want their patients to receive the most appropriate service and treatment for their individual needs, in a timely manner.
2. Health comes first. Always.
Depending on your eligibility, most of our services are provided for free or at low cost. For many clients of Your Community Health, the financial burden can be removed or reduced from the decision making process about how and when to seek treatment. Health can come first.
There are a wide range of dental services available if you need treatment:
- Emergency Care
- Preventative Care
- General Care (Fillings, Extractions, etc)
- Dentures
Preventative care is very important and the best option for you long term. Imagine not having to need a filling, ever! We will support you with preventative care and education to help keep your mouth and your body healthy.
3. We are breaking down the barriers to good dental health.
There are lots of things that stop people getting good dental care. But it doesn’t have to be this way – and Your Community Health is breaking down these barriers. This is what I am most looking forward to contributing to through my work here. It is important to me that people are aware of what we do and we make it as easy as possible for them to access our service.
Did you know that we provide free interpreters at your appointment for anyone who needs one? This is just one small way the organisation is making it easier for people to get the care they need.
We work closely with other health teams here, like our doctors and Aboriginal Health team, who are out in the community. They help people connect with our services. This is a great advantage of community health that you don’t often get privately. Our extended network of health professionals can create more coordinated, consistent and better care for clients.
We are also taking services out to you. We will increasingly be going into schools, preschools, and community groups, where we will be offering free dental screenings (check-ups) and education sessions.
I have yet to complete my third week here, so I am sure I will learn a lot more about the important work that the organisation is doing as I carry on! But for now, I will go back to meeting all my new colleagues and working out ways we can continue to improve our services.
If you see me around, please come and say hello!