Health Benefits dental therapist Kim Trottier, sits knee to knee with a worried Mom. At just 2 years old, today’s patient is too small for the dentist’s chair. Instead, Kim and Mom hold him between them on their laps as Kim takes a look at his teeth.
"It was quite obvious that Mom was distressed about her son’s dental health," says Kim. "She said that she’d noticed some spots and holes in his teeth and she wanted me to have a look. Upon examination, I could see that most of his teeth had obvious decay."
Keeping care in the community
Although most cases like this one are referred out of the community, as a certified dental therapist, Kim had the skills to treat the child in community that very day. As Mom kept the toddler calm and comforted, Kim got to work.
"With his head still in my lap, I cleaned decay out of a few teeth and placed the medicated filling material. It went so well, we decided to do a few more. On and on we worked until the work was done. We ended up placing medicated fillings in 15 of his teeth and finished his treatment with a fluoride varnish application," explains Kim.
"Mom was so happy and grateful to have his work done without needing to leave the community," adds Kim.
Working together to build relationships
One reason for the decay could be that at bedtime Mom lays him down with a bottle of milk.
For Kim, the most important thing is to work with parents to support their children’s dental health – respectfully and without judgment. She had noticed a real shift when she moved to the First Nations Health Authority from a job in private practice.
"The most important aspect of my role with the Health Benefit’s Oral Health team is to develop trusting relationships and to truly support and empower community members," says Kim. "I’m not just their dental provider. I’m invited into their homes, their schools, their hospital rooms. The work environment is much more intimate than what I experienced in private practice."
"I came on board in early 2014," Kim says. "I realized pretty early on that this position with the FNHA was about building good relationships and making connections in the community."
This relationship-centered approach is a cornerstone of how the First Nations Health Authority operates. The FNHA believes that building good relationships is critical to providing excellent health services.
When the work was over, Kim and Mom discussed swapping out the milk for water at bedtime. They spoke about brushing techniques and Kim recommended a fluoride toothpaste. Before Kim sent them on their way, they made a plan to visit every three months for a checkup and fluoride varnish.
Part of a province-wide team
Kim is one of seven dental therapists on the Health Benefit’s Oral Health team. She works out of four different health units: Stz’uminus, Penelakut, Malahat, and Halalt First Nations on Vancouver Island. Each week she sees patients for dental services, as well as promoting oral health at local health fairs and other events. When she has time, she makes school visits to perform checkups and fluoride rinses for students.
The Health Benefits Oral Health Team supports the delivery of the Children’s Oral Health Initiative (COHI) and Dental Therapy services in BC First Nations communities. The team takes a holistic approach to oral health and works together with BC First Nations to bring dental care to communities and families across the province.
Learn more about FNHA’s Children’s Oral Health Initiatives here