Northern oral health working group

NOHWG Public Health Dentistry

Made up of public health dentistry organizations

Each member is funded by their own organization

Members meet 3-4 times a year

Established in 2003 under the umbrella of the Northern Health Strategy

Initially composed of dental professionals in both Northern Provincial and First Nations health jurisdictions along with the College of Dentistry at both the UofS and UofM

Initial goals were to work together to improve oral health and access to care utilizing a population health approach

Early accomplishments included: Partnerships with the Colleges of Dentistry at the

Universities of Saskatchewan and Manitoba Continuing Educations sessions Standardized health promotion messaging and resources To promote Best Practice Standards Knowledge Transfer to communities and allied health

professions

Development and implementation of standardized paper chart system

Exploration of e-record dental chart system Development of a Oral Health Risk Assessment

Tool Revision of Health Canada’s Children’s Oral

Health Initiative Fluoride Varnish train the trainer manuals

Development of Anticipatory Guidance document Facilitated standardized Infection Control

Procedures through training Work with the Northern Healthy Eating Team to

promote healthy eating through collaboration with the schools and Maternal Child Health teams

Be a resource for dental public health at the local, regional, provincial, and national levels

Work as an inter-jurisdictional team to develop and implement best practices which will improve oral and systemic health outcomes of Northern Saskatchewan residents

Support membership diversity to ensure inter-professional and inter-jurisdictional representation

As the Working Group evolved, the activities coalesced in three areas:

1. Improving Service Delivery

2. Increase Access to Care

3. Vehicle for Continuing Education

Discuss new and innovating ways of providing care

◦ Preventive services: Knee to knee Home visits Fluoride

◦ Treatment Services Amalgam vs resin Stainless steel crowns Nitrous vs general anesthetic ART

Discuss methods for providing care: ◦ Ideas for program delivery ◦ Sealants – target age groups ◦ Calibration ◦ Xylitol ◦ Best practice methods ◦ Best practice materials

Projects and Resource development ◦ GA Waiting room educational poster ◦ Childs’ First Visit to the Dentist by age 1 ◦ Open cup starting at 6 months ◦ Fluoride varnish education – videos and pictures ◦ Drop the Pop initiative – with permission from the

North West Territories - revamped the school based teaching manual in conjunction with the Ministry of Education

Choose Water

Child’s first visit to dental home by age 1

Use appropriate size of cup

Start with only water

Baby does not need juice, pop, or other sugary beverages

Smoothie parties in the schools

Prize bags given to children for Dental Health Month

Sugar bottle display activity

Sharing Ideas ◦ Volume orders ◦ Dental Health Month promotion ◦ Combined services – sharing service delivery

Received at the National Conference in September 2016 in Edmonton.

This award recognizes the efforts of groups

and individuals, in improving the oral health of all Canadians. These efforts can include, but are not limited to, administrative work, inter-professional education, and health promotion.

Chair of the NOHWG, Penny Griffith from the Athabasca Health Authority, accepted the award on behalf of the group.