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      Registered dental hygienists (RDHs), educated health professionals who specialize in the promotion of oral health and prevention of oral disease, are an integral part to the overall health of individuals (ODHA, n.d.). The College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario is established to hold dental hygienists to a standard by ensuring successful annual licensure registrations, self-assessments, quality assurance, and professional development. This is important as it protects the public, and it allows for a process where members of the public can file complaints of malpractice against a member of the college and accountability can be procured. On the other hand, the Ontario Dental Hygiene Association (ODHA) works to support and advance dental hygienists in the profession, and protects their registration should a malpractice case come into light. As members of healthcare, RDHs are encouraged to maintain a strictly professional public profile on online platforms such as Facebook and X (formerly Twitter); this is important to maintain healthy boundaries between a healthcare provider and the public, and to ensure that anything posted online by an RDH is professional in nature, or aims to provide education or resources for the benefit of the public.

Since dental hygienists play a very important role in contributing to the overall health of individuals, a proper definition for what "health" is should be established. My favourite definition of health comes from The Institute of Medicine (US) Committee: "Health is a state of well-being and the capability to function in the face of changing circumstances" (1997). This definition provides insight on the fluidity of the term "health", and it highlights the dynamic circumstances of a person's life as they strive to be well. For example, when patients are diagnosed with periodontal disease, especially periodontitis, this disease cannot be cured, but only managed. Hence, if RDHs can help their patients with maintaining their periodontal health, they are helping them maintain a state of well-being. Unfortunately, there is certainly more to it than just that, if we take a closer look at the determinants of health and how people can remain healthy. According to HPE Public Health, determinants of health are non-biological factors that affect an individual's health, such as income and social status, education and literacy, and employment, to name a few (HPE Public Health, 2017). Determinants of health are essentially factors that determine where an individual is on a health equity spectrum. People who cannot afford dental care, are not educated, or have other life-altering factors cannot access proper dental care. It is very simple to focus on singular factors such as eating too many sugary foods or not brushing teeth well enough; however, this national crisis of dental caries goes far deeper than that. It is multifactorial and must be looked at through a multilevel health model lens. Using a multilevel health model, such as the one by Bramlett 2011, we can understand that a simple recommendation that the child should brush better at home, eat less sugary foods, or maintain dental visits biyearly is NOT enough. Dental health professionals should have a vast knowledge that some things are easier said than done, and participate in interventions that can better assist these families in helping their children. For instance, does the parent have a car to transport the child to their dental appointment? What does their culture believe regarding oral health? What does their neighbourhood rate in terms of number of dental caries per year? Does the child have health insurance? Is the child suffering from hunger and dental care is at the bottom of their priorities? Many questions can be asked and many situations can be overlapped. It is iminent that these multilevel models be studied more thoroughly and better interventions come up to aid.

On another note, there are many marginalized groups of people across Canada, such as Indigenous people, that struggle to receive or access dental care simply because of geographic location and affordability (CDA, 2010). Due to this marginalization, their geographic location tends to be segregated from urban areas where access to dental clinics is more readily available. According to an article on CBC by McKay in 2023, the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) will really not benefit the indigenous communities because even if they are covered, there are little to no dental providers near their reserves to provide care (McKay, 2023). It is simply not enough to offer a national benefit program, and yet no means or ways for indigenous people to access it. Policy makers in all of the provinces and territories should create a more integrated approach to address these barriers (Hussain, 2022). Most importantly, ensuring that there is some way the national dental insurance can be utilized by these communities, either through incentivizing dental providers to take up employment in indigenous communities or creating dental programs for individuals who wish to take up these professions in their communities.

In the future, there is hope for a cavity-free world for Canadian children. The Alliance for a Cavity-Free Future (ACFF), a non-profit organization, has published important research to inform, share and connect with the public towards achieving a cavity-free future for children (Pitts, et al., 2023). It is clear that dental decay, being one of the most common preventable diseases, is finally being tackled and halted. The ACFF recommends upstream, midstream, and downstream policy intervention: "Most oral diseases and conditions are preventable and can be effectively addressed through population-based public health measures. Upstream policy interventions, such as those targeting social and commercial determinants, are cost-effective with high population reach and impact. Midstream initiatives include creating more supportive conditions in key settings like households, schools, workplaces, long-term care facilities and community venues. Downstream interventions are also critical, including essential prevention and evidence-based clinical oral health care" (WHO, 2023). With that being said, these policies can be implemented by crossing off multiple determinants of health, such as examining a multilevel model of health and working towards eliminating barriers to care. For example, Canada now has implemented the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP), which supports families through dental insurance if they make less than $90,000 per annum. This is a step in the right direction as it eliminates the financial barrier. In essence, I do believe that Canada is a good leader on equity and inclusion; however more work can always be done to better our current cause.

References

Benjamin, R. M. Oral health: the silent epidemic. Public Health Rep.
2010;125(2):158-159. doi:10.1177/003335491012500202

Bramlett, M. D., et al. (2010). Assessing a multilevel model of young children's oral
health with national survey data. Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology,
38(4), 287–298. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0528.2010.00536.x

Brassolotto, J., Raphael, D., & Baldeo, N. (2014). Epistemological barriers to
addressing the social determinants of health among public health professionals
in Ontario, Canada: a qualitative inquiry. Critical Public Health, 24(3), 321–336.
https://nccdh.ca/images/uploads/CPH_Brassolotto.pdf 

Brook. R. H. (2017). Should the definition of health include a measure of tolerance?

JAMA, 317(6), 585-586. doi:10.1001/jama.2016.14372 

Canada.ca. (n.d.). Oral Health for Children. 

https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/topics/oral-health/caring-your-teeth-mouh/children.html

Canadian Dental Association. (2010). CDA Position on Access to Oral Health Care for
Canadians. https://www.cdaadc.ca/en/about/position_statements/accesstocare/

Clark, L. L., Zagni, M., & While, A. E. (2024). ‘No health without mental health’: where

are we now? British Journal of Community Nursing, 29(6), 282–287.

https://0-doi-org.aupac.lib.athabascau.ca/10.12968/bjcn.2024.29.6.282 

HPE Public Health. (n.d.). The Social Determinants of Health.
https://hpepublichealth.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/HPEPH-Social_Determinants_Report_Edited.pdf

Huber, M. (2011). Health: How should we define it? British Medical Journal, 343(7817),
235-237. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.d4163

Hussain A. (2022). Key Challenges for Indigenous Peoples of Canada in terms of Oral Health
Provision and Utilization: A Scoping Review. International Journal of Dentistry,
7511213. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/7511213
Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Using Performance Monitoring to Improve

Community Health. (1997, January 1). Understanding health and its

determinants. Improving Health in the Community: A Role for Performance

Monitoring. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK233009/ 

 Jackson S. L., et al. (2011). Impact of poor oral health on children's school attendance
and performance. Am J Public Health. 2011;101(10):1900-1906.
doi:10.2105/AJPH.2010.200915

Markolin, C. (n.d.). German New Medicine. Welcome to Learning GNM.

https://learninggnm.com/home.html 

McKay, J. (2023). Indigenous people in remote communities may not see much benefit from
national dental care plan. CBC News.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/canada-dental-plan-indigenous-1.7057816

Nelson, S., et al. (2024). Multilevel Interventions and Dental Attendance in Pediatric
Primary Care: A Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA network open, 7(7),
e2418217. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.18217

Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (2018). Ontario public health standards:
requirements for programs, services, and accountability. Queen's Printer for
Ontario.  http://www.health.gov.on.ca/

en/pro/programs/publichealth/oph_standards/default.aspx

Pierce, A., et al. (2019). The burden of early childhood caries in Canadian children and
associated risk factors. Frontiers in Public Health, 7, 328.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2019.00328

Pitts, N., Pow, R. (2023). Towards a Cavity-Free Future for Infants and Children in Canada:
Given recent developments in oral health care policy and practice in Canada and
internationally, what else is needed in terms of investments or other conditions to
maximize caries prevention and care amongst infants and children?
doi.org/10.18742/pub01-111

Pitts, N. & Mayne, C. (2021). A Global Consensus for Achieving a Dental Cavity-Free Future. DOI: 10.18742/pub01-045

Provincial Health Services Authority, (2011). Towards reducing health inequities: A
health system approach to chronic disease prevention. A discussion paper.
Vancouver, BC: Population & Public Health, Provincial Health Services Authority.

Raphael, D. (2003). Barriers to addressing the societal determinants of health: public
health units and poverty in Ontario, Canada. Health Promotion International,
18(4), 397–405. https://0-doi-org.aupac.lib.athabascau.ca/10.2307/45153155

Saracci, R. (1997). The World Health Organisation needs to reconsider its definition

of health. BMJ (Clinical research ed.), 314(7091), 1409–1410.

https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.314.7091.1409

World Health Organisation (2023). Draft Global Oral Health Action Plan (2023-2030).
https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/draft-global-oral-health-action-plan-(2023-2030)

As more policies and program become available to the Canadian public, it is expected that the rate of dental decay decreases. How can this happen? In Canada, a non-profit organization, The Alliance for a Cavity-Free Future (ACFF), has published important research to inform, share and connect with the public towards achieving a cavity-free future for children (Pitts, et al., 2023). It is clear that dental decay, being one of the most common preventable diseases, is finally being tackled and halted. The ACFF recommends upstream, midstream, and downstream policy intervention: "Most oral diseases and conditions are preventable and can be effectively addressed through population-based public health measures. Upstream policy interventions, such as those targeting social and commercial determinants, are cost-effective with high population reach and impact. Midstream initiatives include creating more supportive conditions in key settings like households, schools, workplaces, long-term care facilities and community venues. Downstream interventions are also critical, including essential prevention and evidence-based clinical oral health care" (WHO, 2023). With that being said, these policies can be implemented by crossing off multiple determinants of health, such as examining a multilevel model of health and working towards eliminating barriers to care. For example, Canada now has implemented the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP), which supports families through dental insurance if they make less than $90,000 per annum. This is a step in the right direction as it eliminates the financial barrier. Many health care providers (dentists, physicians, etc) now carry pamphlets with QR codes, links, and telephone numbers for people to contact this department and apply for the CDCP benefit. This helps to spread and share the information, in different languages, and allow for people to seek more information through scanning the QR code on their phone, or searching the website, or simply calling the number on the pamphlet to connect with an agent. This is a great example of carefully following a multilevel model of health because not only does the government tackle the financial aspect, but disturbing the information to others, in multiple languages, and providing different ways to look up or contact the necessary agents, proves that we are advancing towards the right direction!

In addition, it is now a recommendation that a child makes their first dental visit at the eruption of their first tooth. This recommendation is verbalized by the child's pediatrician, OB/GYN, family doctor, family dentist, and other health care providers, and it illustrates the importance of early detection of issues and hence prevention of oral disease and decay. "Many provinces have now developed campaigns targeting parents to promote first dental visits by a child’s first birthday, and there is growing awareness of this important milestone" (Pitts, et al., 2023). Among many other initiaives, I believe the future of children in Canada is bright with respect to oral health. I believe more health care providers are collaborating and sharing information for the benefit of the public. Canada is utulizing a multilevel model of health, eliminating barriers to care, and focussing on a cavity-free future for our children.

References

Pitts, N., Pow, R. (2023). Towards a Cavity-Free Future for Infants and Children in Canada: Given recent developments in oral
health care policy and practice in Canada and internationally, what else is needed in terms of investments or other conditions
to maximize caries prevention and care amongst infants and children? doi.org/10.18742/pub01-111

Pitts, N. & Mayne, C. (2021). A Global Consensus for Achieving a Dental Cavity-Free Future. DOI: 10.18742/pub01-045

World Health Organisation (2023). Draft Global Oral Health Action Plan (2023-2030).
https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/draft-global-oral-health-action-plan-(2023-2030)

Indigenous people in Canada face many barriers to dental care through a multitude of health determinants, including accessibility and geographic location, as well as affordability (CDA, 2010). It is common knowledge that the indigenous peoples community is a marginalized community, and because of this marginalization, their geographic location tends to be segregated from urban areas where access to dental clinic is more readily available. According to an article on CBC by McKay in 2023, the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) will really not benefit the indigenous communities because even if they are covered, there are little to no dental providers near their reserves to provide care (McKay, 2023). Many indigenous people lose their teeth even though they could have been saved, simply because there was no access to a provider in their geographic location. Unfortunately, this segregation between indigenous communities and dental providers begs the questions: Why are no dental health providers seeking to establish clinics near indigenous peoples' communities? Should the government offer incentives and programs for providers to travel to these communities and offer services on a regular basis? Should there be more programs aimed at encouraging indigenous people to apply to dental schools and dental hygiene schools to increase these types of providers within their own communities?  It is simply not enough to offer a national benefit program, and yet no means or ways for indigenous people to access it. Policy makers in all of the provinces and territories should create a more integrated approach to address these barriers (Hussain, 2022). Most importantly, ensuring that there is some way the national dental insurance can be utilized by these communities, either through incentivizing dental providers to take up employment in indigenous communities or creating dental programs for individuals who wish to take up these professions in their communities.

The dental practice I currently work at is in a very urban region in southern Ontario. We do not receive many patients who identify as Indigenous people. However, our office does accept all sorts of governmental programs to help those with low income, including the CDCP, the Non-Insured Health Benefit (NIHB) plan, and the Ontario disability benefit insurance. Many previous offices I have worked at neglect to take these insurances since their fee guides are significantly less than the one set out by the Ontario Dental Association, and some dentists or hygienists see it as a loss to their production. It would be beneficial if the government simply matched the fee schedule for these programs to the provincial fee guide to help mitigate this issue. It would also be beneficial to make it mandatory that dental offices should accept at least a reasonable number of patients with these types of insurance plans to ensure equitable access to care.

References

Canadian Dental Association. (2010). CDA Position on Access to Oral Health Care for Canadians. https://www.cda
adc.ca/en/about/position_statements/accesstocare/

Hussain A. (2022). Key Challenges for Indigenous Peoples of Canada in terms of Oral Health Provision and Utilization: A

Scoping Review. International journal of dentistry, 2022, 7511213. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/7511213

McKay, J. (2023). Indigenous people in remote communities may not see much benefit from national dental care plan. CBC

News. https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/canada-dental-plan-indigenous-1.7057816

According to HPE Public Health, determinants of health are non-biological factors that affect an individual's health, such as income and social status, education and literacy, and employment, to name a few (HPE Public Health, 2017). Determinants of health are essentially factors that determine where an individual is on a health equity spectrum. For instance, someone who may be experiencing homelessness and is illiterate may face significant challenges to obtaining healthcare or understanding their need for healthcare. Whereas someone who has a bachelor's degree and is working a full-time job will likely have less challenges acquiring healthcare. Fortunately, there are many programs in place to help those with larger gaps in equity. For example, in the province of Ontario, you can visit a local Public Health Unit and request information on subsidized programs. For dentistry, Ontario offers the Healthy Smiles Ontario program for children under the age of 18 to access subsidized dental services. While these programs exist and certainly help many people, there is not enough outreach to communities that either do not have the transportation to visit a health unit, a phone to call and inquire, or even the knowledge that such places exist for the welfare of those who need it. In his paper, Raphael highlights  that although Canada is regarded as a leader in health promotion, our public health system is more concerned with addressing behavioural changes rather than the determinants of health (Raphael, 2003). Furthermore, Ontario in particular, heart health is encouraged through diet and lifestyle changes, rather than the structural factors (determinants of health), which are proven to be a very important understanding of why some people are unhealthy (Raphael, 2003). In this dilemma, it appears as though Public Health Ontario focuses more on the result of the illness, rather than the root cause. In other words, the health units will encourage daily exercise and a better diet, rather than addressing that heart disease is most common among those with low income. 

Brassolotto's research suggests that public health units revealed a degree of awareness to the importance of societal determinants of health, but this is dependant on advocacy, public education, and intersectoral coalitions of that particular unit (Brassolotto, 2013). Regardless of the approach of the public heath unit, it is vital that a major portion of their focus sould be towards addressing the determinants of health and bridging the gaps of equity. There should be rules in place to educate people of all levels, provide programs that rehabilitate those with low or no income among other factors. It is important to establish a solution to the cause of the problem, rather than offering band-aid solutions to it. If a person is illiterate and is experiencing heart disease, it is not helpful to simply advise them to stop eating fatty foods, but rather offer programs that can enhance their literacy and education so they can understand and conceptualize why a healthier diet and exercise are important. In essence, although the determinants of health are a standard to be recognized, I do not think that Ontario has established a system to cater to the non-biological factors that affect health.

I do believe the top determinant that is focusses on in Ontario is income. Since Ontario is the most populated province in Canada, it is safe to assume that a higher portion of those people will experience the effects of low or no income than other provinces. In British Columbia for example, their BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) has curated a document that highlights the actions their health care system should take to reduce health inequities (BCCDC, 2025). At a quick glance, BC certainly appears more progressive and forward in their approach to reducing health inequities than Ontario, as it appears they are already working towards it by creating policies and programs for their residents as highlighted by the Provincial Health Services Authority: Towards Reducing Health Inequities: A Health System Approach to Chronic Disease Prevention. A Discussion Paper (Health Services Authority, 2011).

References

Brassolotto, J., Raphael, D., & Baldeo, N. (2014). Epistemological barriers to addressing the social determinants of health among 

public health professionals in Ontario, Canada: a qualitative inquiry. Critical Public Health, 24(3), 321–336. 

https://nccdh.ca/images/uploads/CPH_Brassolotto.pdf 

HPE Public Health. (n.d.). The Social Determinants of Health.

https://hpepublichealth.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/HPEPH-Social_Determinants_Report_Edited.pdf

Provincial Health Services Authority, (2011). Towards Reducing Health Inequities: A Health System Approach to Chronic Disease 

Prevention. A Discussion Paper. Vancouver, BC: Population & Public Health, Provincial Health Services Authority.

Raphael, D. (2003). Barriers to addressing the societal determinants of health: public

health units and poverty in Ontario, Canada. Health Promotion International, 

   18(4), 397–405. https://0-doi-org.aupac.lib.athabascau.ca/10.2307/45153155

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), health is defined as "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity" since 1948. This definition is very limiting in that it categorizes health as an absolute state rather than a dynamic one. With that being said, I appreciate the definition from The Institute of Medicine (US) Committee: "Health is a state of well-being and the capability to function in the face of changing circumstances" (1997). This definition provides insight on the fluidity of the term "health", and it highlights the dynamic circumstances of a person's life as they strive to be well. Arguably, health is a subjective term. Yes, it can be measured in numbers; however, I find that more often it is a feeling or a state of existing as a response to the ongoing changes in our lives. 

In fact, I very closely follow Dr. R. G Hamer, a German medical doctor, who established a revolutionary perspective on health and disease named German New Medicine (GNM). In his discovery, Dr. Hamer found a link between unexpected emotional distress, referred to as "conflict shocks", and physical symptoms that lead to our diagnosable diseases. Dr. Hamer was able to track this specific correlation on brain CT scans since each type of conflict shock corresponds to a particular area in the brain that produces those physical symptoms in the body. GNM is a fascinating and revolutionary medical perspective because it ties in the fact that the human body does not get disease or decay on its own, but rather through a strong correlation between the emotional, psychological, and mental aspects that can be exhibited physically in the body. Furthermore, I find this perspective very interesting as it relates to defining health. Health is not the absence of disease, it is not an absolute state of wellness, it is the ability to heal and adapt in the fact of changing circumstances (1997).

Medicine is constantly evolving. I find it very difficult to understand that the WHO has yet to adapt its defnition of health to be more inclusive of the majority of the population. In one way or another, I believe everyone has some ailment that would technically consider them "unhealthy" based off of the WHO definition. Everyone that I know, including myself, suffers from some sort of chronic pain or discomfort, a chronic condition such as high blood pressure, or more seriously a health issue that results in dependence on tools to survive. It is important to urge the WHO to change this definition to include those that have adapted and continue to lead a life that is normal to them. For example, many dental hygienists suffer from chronic back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and stiffness in muscles. However, by seeing a chiropractor, performing daily exercises to alleviate pain, or enhancing ergonomics in the workplace, most dental hygienists can work until they retire with controlled symptoms. This does not necessarily makes them unhealthy. This simply makes them people living with chronic conditions and adapting to lead a life that is normal to them. I can appreciate that the WHO included mental, physical and social well-being as prerequisites to health, as it ultimately shows that they were heading in the right direction in 1948. However, I believe the main issue is using the term "complete well-being". It is essentially claiming that perfection = health. That is simply not attainable.

We must also ask the question, what did they think of mental health back in 1948 when this definition was first established? Mental health has advanced so vastly just in the last several years. Many people in 2025 live with conditions that affect their mental health; however being controlled by medication, therapy, or other alternative means. If someone has anxiety and takes anti-anxiety medication, does this make them unhealthy? Well, according to the WHO definition, yes! However, many people who take anti-anxiety medications to treat their anxiety can live very full lives and would consider themselves healthy. This is why I believe this term is subjective, regardless of the fact that it can to some extent be measured in numbers.

References

Brook. R. H. (2017). Should the definition of health include a measure of tolerance? JAMA, 317 (6), 585-586. doi:10.1001/jama.2016.14372

Clark, L. L., Zagni, M., & While, A. E. (2024). ‘No health without mental health’: where are we now? British Journal of Community Nursing, 29(6), 282–287. https://0-doi-org.aupac.lib.athabascau.ca/10.12968/bjcn.2024.29.6.282

Huber, M. (2011). Health: How should we define it? British Medical Journal, 343,(7817), 235-237. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.d4163

Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Using Performance Monitoring to Improve Community Health. (1997, January 1). Understanding health and its determinants. Improving Health in the Community: A Role for Performance Monitoring. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK233009/ 

Markolin, C. (n.d.). German New Medicine. Welcome to Learning GNM. https://learninggnm.com/home.html 

Saracci, R. (1997). The World Health Organisation needs to reconsider its definition of health. BMJ (Clinical research ed.), 314(7091), 1409–1410. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.314.7091.1409

I have been off social media since graduating high school in 2018; I have no Instagram, Snapchat, X (formerly Twitter), or other popular platforms besides Facebook, which I use for the Messenger aspect only. I realize that social media and having a strong online presence is very important in this era; hence, I will begin a professional online presence soon. 

When I look up my name, nothing that pertains to me shows up. There is an influencer/actress with that name that pops up on multiple social media platforms. I have not posted anything on any social media platforms since 2018. Since, I have deleted every picture/post on Facebook from when I first got my Facebook account up until 2018. However, when I did make occasional posts, my settings were almost always private. If I posted anything publicly, I made sure it was an appropriate image, proper spelling and grammar in the caption, and to sound polite and respectful. My parents were very strict with my siblings and I growing up regarding online safety.

I am currently inactive online. I recently began sprucing up my LinkedIn account to gain more connections. I plan on creating a professional Instagram account to post regular tips and tricks and education videos on dental hygiene and myofunctional therapy. 

Because I am not at all active on social media, I cannot recall a time I have reported or reposted anything. Hopefully that will change moving forward. 

As a clinician in dentistry, there are many avenues for collaboration with other health care professionals outside the dental realm. Undeniably, as a dental hygienist working in a general dental practice, I make referrals to more specialized dental practitioners such as orthodontists, endodontists, periodontists and oral surgeons. However, depending on the patient's medical history, we may contact cardiologists or cardiothoracic surgeons to request more information on antibiotic premedication for invasive procedures on patients with an artificial heart valve. We may also connect with family physicians or nurse practitioners regarding a patient's acid reflux that can be not only eroding their teeth, but likely their gastrointestinal health as well. 

As a myofunctional therapist, I make many referrals to bodyworkers, including chiropractors, physiotherapists, and craniosacral therapists to help correct alignment issues that can affect my treatment of their orofacial muscles. We can sometime work together or at different intervals to better assist the patient in overcoming certain ailments that are hindering their progress in one treatment or the other.

Working in dentistry in some ways can make dental professionals feel isolated. For example, many patients that have a sleep-breathing disorder such as obstructive sleep apnea, can benefit from a mandibular advancement device rather than a CPAP machine, simply for ease of use and higher success rates due to patient's compliance. Unfortunately, most doctors and/or sleep specialists immediately recommend a CPAP without understanding the personality type of their patients, and whether or not the patient will commit and comply with the CPAP machine. Often times we see patients with severe sleep apnea that is left untreated because the patient refuses their CPAP and has no idea that there is another option for them.

 It would be beneficial if schools were more focussed on interprofessional collaboration and how to cultivate these relationships. It would also be beneficial if different disciplines learned more about different professions and understanding the scopes of each relevant profession.