New Jersey
Dental Hygienists' Association

NEWS YOU CAN USE

Oral Health America "A State of Decay, Volume III"
A State of Decay Vol. III by Oral Health America (OHA) is a state-by-state report of the oral health of the country's 65+ population and the success or failure of states to address those needs. The 2016 State of Decay is the 3rd in a series of reports from OHA surveying the state of oral health for older Americans. It is one of five strategies for OHA’s Wisdom Tooth Project®, a program designed to meet the oral health challenges of a burgeoning population of community dwelling older adults, their family caregivers and the health professionals who work to help them age healthily and independently.





GERIATRICS

Dental Hygienists are education and prevention specialists working to improve the total health of all populations. The New Jersey Dental Hygienists' Association:
  • supports broadening the scope of dental hygiene practice through state dental hygiene and/or dental practice acts to meet the health care needs of the public. This would enable the dental hygienist to provide preventive and therapeutic services to all people.
  • recommends that Dental Hygienists be utilized as the Oral Health Liaison on the staff of all Long Term Care Facilities.
  • affirms its fundamental commitment to total health for all people and its willingness to cooperate with all agencies and individuals who share this commitment.
  • supports expanding access within the dental hygiene scope of practice for comprehensive oral health programs and services that reach populations in need.
  • advocates that dental hygiene practice is an integral component of the health care delivery system and that dental hygiene care may be delivered with direct access to dental hygienists in collaborative practice with other health care professionals within the overall context of the health needs of all populations.
  • advocates that dental hygienists be recognized for direct reimbursement from public and private insurances for services rendered to populations in need.




Looking for Oral Care in NJ?

For Low Cost Preventive Care & Referrals for Needed Dentistry, consider these dental hygiene educational programs. All students are supervised by licensed dentists and dental hygienists.

Bergen County
Bergen Community College Dental Hygiene Clinic—201.447.7180

Hudson County
Eastern International College Dental Hygiene Clinic-201.630.2080

Union County
Rutgers University Dental Hygiene Clinic-908.889.2410

Middlesex County
Middlesex County College Dental Hygiene Clinic-732.906.2536

Burlington County
Rowan College at Burlington Dental Hygiene Clinic-609.894.9311 x1074

Camden County
Camden County College Dental Hygiene Clinic-856.374.4930

For finacial assistance with dental care, consider:

New Jersey Dental Clinic Directory 2016
The New Jersey Dental Clinic Directory is designed to assist people who have difficulty accessing dental care due to insurance or financial constraints. Many of the clinics have financial and/or residency requirements. Patients should be advised to call for an appointment and ask about required documentation regarding income or residency.

Dental Lifeline Network NJ
For these donated dental services (emergency care is NOT provided), applicants must lack adequate income to pay for dental care and:
• Have a permanent disability, or
• Are elderly: age 65 or older, or
• Qualify as medically fragile






LONG TERM CARE FACILITIES

Search for Long-Term Care Facilities
Source: NJ Department of Health
Includes: Nursing homes, Assisted Living, Adult Day Care and more. Search by County

Health Care Association of NJ
The Health Care Association of New Jersey (HCANJ) is a non-profit trade association representing long term care providers who believe that the individuals they serve are entitled to a supportive environment in which professional and compassionate care is delivered. This belief compels HCANJ and its members to advocate for individuals who, because of social needs, disability, trauma, or illness, require services provided in a long term care setting, while also advocating for the long term care provider community.







HOW CAN I DO MORE?

NJDHA Task Forces
Whether gathering resources, providing input, or volunteering for a community event - your participation is welcomed! Contact Executive Director Becky Pugh executivedirector@njdha.org for more info.



Geriatrics Study Club

NJDHA Member Benefit offers 1 CEU via conference call, 5 times per year. No fee is required.  The Study Club reviews a published article than holds a one hour discussion or presentaiton. Registration for each study club is via email with Central Office.  Next Opportunity is coming in Fall 2017.



The New Jersey Coalition for Oral Health for the Aging (NJCOHA) is a volunteer organization dedicated to improving the oral health of New Jersey's elderly citizens. Volunteers may be active professionals, students, or retired professionals. Work will include advocacy, education, research and action. Initially begun by Dr. Sam Zwetchkenbaum, NJCOHA is now housed with the
New Jersey Dental Hygienists' Association (NJDHA) NJDHA represents NJCOHA with the following: 
  • New Jersey Oral Health Coalition
  • Oral Health America


Resources for Older Adults


Oral Health America (OHA)provides a variety of resources for professionals and older adults;
go to Tooth Wisdom

Additionally, OHA has a page dedicated to New Jersey;
go to NJ Tooth wisdom



Resources for Professionals



Looking for Research?

National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Research

Cochrane Collaboration


Looking for Regulations?

From University of Minnesota Manual:
Here are some helpful resources regarding Federal nursing home
oral healthcare regulations; provides Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) definitions, as well as right/responsibilities for patients and providers; includes quick reference to each state’s specific guidelines for nursing home care.

Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Long Term Care Facilities
Regulations, research, access and more with Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP








Maintaining Dental Health
Click here to access the article on page 7 in Renaissance Magazine

Authors:
Linda Knudsen, RDH, MSW and Samuel Zwetchekntbaum, DDS, MPH

Published by
NJ Foundation for Aging

RDH LICENSEES:
REPORT ELDER ABUSE

Elder abuse can take many forms, either as abuse or neglect in the physical, psychological, or financial realms.  Any of these may become apparent in a dental hygiene visit.  Any licensed or certified individual is mandated to report such abuse in their professional role.

Dr. Sylvia Presto has published an article in the Winter 2015 NJ Foundation for Aging's Renaissance: "Elder Financial Abuse, A Violation of Trust"
Click here to access the magazine, and scroll to page 14

To report suspected abuse, contact NJ Adult Protective Services in the NJ Department of Human Services, Division of Aging Services. Click here for a Department of Aging flyer that provides information and contact info for most counties.