Winter 2017-18

15 nmdental.org “I enjoy participating in outreach for children, their parents, special needs and the elderly in our community.” A CDHC View as a Student By Taylor Vittitow— CNM CDHC Student I have been interested in dentistry since I was young, and as a native NewMexican, I was unaware of the vast dental problems that impact our community. Now that I am in my final term of the Community Dental Health Coordinating (CDHC) program at CNM, it has truly opened my eyes to the issues we are facing in some rural areas in New Mexico. I think that a big problem we face is the lack of possible resources or education to those who cannot access dental care as easily. As a Community Dental Health Coordinator, I believe these issues can be addressed more readily. I have learned so much about ways in which I can help in making a difference for those who may not be able to see a dentist for a period of time. I enjoy participating in outreach for children, their parents, special needs, and the elderly in our community. The overall goal of CDHC is to empower our community members, communities and dental healthcare systems in order to achieve positive outcomes and to reach optimal level of wellness for everyone. As I finish my last term, I want to help reach this goal. So far I have enjoyed this term with various outreach opportunities and clinical hours. Fellow CDHC students and I have been able to travel to an elementary school in Los Alamos, New Mexico to give a presentation, to 75 fifth graders and present to 25 children (ages 5-11) and 11 seniors at Los Duranes Community Center here in Albuquerque, on the importance of oral health, how to prevent tooth decay, and give oral hygiene instruction. The kids were eager to learn and had amazing questions. I felt great being able to help others learn and understand why it is so important to keep up with proper oral hygiene. I look forward to many other outreach opportunities we have been given so far which include New Mexico Mission of Mercy, UNM North Valley Clinic Health Fair, a presentation at Taylor Ranch Community Center, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and The Becker Street Festival in Belen, New Mexico. I have been doing my clinical hours at FirstChoice Community Healthcare Dental clinic in the South Valley and it has been extremely beneficial as I have been able to observe many dental procedures. I soon hope to be placing sealants as well. My goal as a CDHC is to provide oral health education, when indicated, place temporary palliative restorations on patients, preventative measures to help avoid oral diseases that lead to possible systemic illnesses, perform various clinical and technical digital radiography skills, obtain vital signs, deliver fluoride treatment using various/applicable techniques, effectively place sealants, perform oral cancer screenings, and identify suspicious carious lesions (emergent, urgent, routine) to be evaluated by clinical dentist for diagnosis and treatment recommendation or referral. I enjoy serving and helping people and feel that I have a responsibility to improve the health of our community with quality dental care. With my passion for oral and general health, I want to use my skills, knowledge, and enthusiasm to facilitate and motivate others to improve their oral health, which will positively impact the wellbeing of our community. Taylor Vittitow is 24 years old, graduated from the University of New Mexico with a Bachelor of Liberal Arts with a focus on health communication. She plans on graduating from the CDHC program this past December. Her goal is to become a dental hygienist and has applied to UNM’s Dental Hygiene program this past September. She looks forward to a future in the dental profession and thinks that the CDHC program is going to be a beneficial asset to the dental community here in New Mexico. State of the Workforce | continued 2018 continued on page 17 