Dental Hygiene "Still in Its Infancy" in Poland and Russia DH Instructor Says
"I saw some major differences in how the professions of dental hygiene in particular and dentistry in general are practiced in Poland and Russia when I was there, compared to this country," said Christine Klausner, clinical assistant professor of dental hygiene.
Dental hygiene instructor Christine Klausner shows a girl at an orphanage in Warsaw, Poland, the proper way to hold a toothbrush to get the best results when cleaning her teeth.
"In those two countries, it seems to me that dental hygiene is still in its infancy, in terms of the role and responsibilities of the dental hygienist and how dental hygiene is practiced. So it was an exciting opportunity for me and others to share our knowledge with oral health care professionals from that part of the world," she added.
Klausner was one of 52 licensed dental hygienists from the U.S. invited by the American Dental Hygienists' Association and the People to People Citizens Ambassador Program to travel to Russia and Poland as a member of the professional delegation. Established by President Dwight Eisenhower in 1956, the program is a private citizen effort to enhance international understanding and friendship through educational, cultural, and humanitarian activities among people in different countries.
Oral Health Information Exchanged
During their 10-day trip to the two countries last summer, Klausner and other ADHA members visited health ministries, colleges and universities, public clinics, and private clinics.
The exchange provided opportunities in St. Petersburg, Russia and Warsaw, Poland to talk about the Russian, Polish, and American health care systems; how the educational systems are designed to prepare and train oral health professionals, including dental hygienists; and public health measures for disease prevention and health promotion.
They also shared knowledge of successful techniques and strategies about professional education, regulation, standards of dental hygiene practice, and the integration of oral health services with the general health of targeted populations.
Major Differences
In both Warsaw and St. Petersburg, Klausner said the facilities she and the others visited "appeared to be more advanced and state-of-the-art than what we often see in similar facilities in the U.S. It seemed just about every clinic was using the latest technology and digitizing their information, including radiographs."
However, Klausner said she was surprised to see that dental hygienists in the two countries have roles that are more similar to dental assistants in this U.S. "Although dental hygienists there provided occasional teeth cleaning in the clinics we visited, by and large they don't get the clinical experiences and practice opportunities to provide comprehensive preventive and therapeutic care typically provided by licensed dental hygienists in the U.S.," she said. "Most of the time, they do what they are directed to do by a dentist."
Klausner added that with Poland becoming a member of the European Union four years ago, education requirements have changed, and a baccalaureate degree is the minimum requirement to become a dental hygienist.
Dentistry in Poland and Russia, Klausner added, tends to be more reactive than pro-active, "so many oral health concerns aren't immediately addressed until they become a bigger problem for a patient," she said. Making matters worse, she continued, is that practice standards are lacking for oral health care professionals to follow in given situations.
The visit also included an exchange of professional textbooks and electronic materials, including CD-ROMs. The delegates also presented helpful information about oral cancer detection and tobacco cessation that could be given to patients.
Members of the group also conducted limited oral health screenings during visits to two orphanages in Poland. They also held one-on-one instructional sessions with children on tooth brushing, flossing, and general nutrition and distributed toothbrushes, toothpaste, and floss to about 75 children. However, Klausner said orphanages in Poland are typically for children whose parents are unable to care for them. "The experience was a unique opportunity for a professional exchange in a part of the world that is advancing the profession of dental hygiene as well as encouraging ways to share information and technologies," she said.
