Introduction
Dental caries is a major health condition affecting most people in industrialized nations. According to medical experts, 91% of Americans suffer from the condition (Lamont, Hajishengallis, & Jenkinson, 2013). As a result, it is important to develop programs to manage the problem. Various resources are required for such projects to succeed. The resources needed for a project related to the prevention and management of dental caries among the elderly, as well as the use and commitment of each resource, are analyzed in this paper.
Identified Resources and Commitment
A number of resources were found to be important for a dental caries program, including funds, professional expertise, medical equipment and supplies, and informative brochures and posters.
Professional Expertise
Professional expertise will be comprised of medical experts specializing in dental health. The team will be made up of an endodontist, an oral and maxillofacial radiologist, as well as a hygienist. Each professional will have unique responsibilities based on his or her specialty (Issel, 2013). The endodontist, for example, will diagnose, prevent, and treat the nerves of the teeth. In addition, he or she will perform surgical root procedures when necessary. On their part, the oral and maxillofacial radiologists will collect and interpret the data used in the diagnosis and management of the presented dental health condition (Riley et al., 2010).
Funds
Financial resources are crucial to the success of any project (Issel, 2013). In a dental caries management program among the elderly, funds will be required to purchase medical equipment and supplies, print posters and brochures, and pay the doctors. The implementation of the preventive dental health care program will cost approximately $1 million. The figure is inclusive of purchasing portable equipment, supplies, and hand instruments. The professionals identified will be paid approximately $30 per hour (Issel, 2013). They are expected to work 5 days a week.
Medical Equipment and Supplies
The tools required for the identified prevention and management program include digital cameras, sterile packs, sealants, and fluoride products. Digital cameras will be used for clinical photography and to record intraoral data during examination (Riley et al., 2010). Sterile packs will be used to store basic examination tools required for various dental procedures (Lamont et al., 2013). Some of the instruments stored in the packs include explorers, mouth mirrors, and cotton pliers.
Sealants will be used to keep food debris out of cavities in the teeth. The item is a thin protective coating made from plastic or other dental materials. Riley et al. (2010) noted that sealants prevent acid and bacteria from settling on the teeth and causing decay. Fluoride products will be given to patients to help reduce the process of demineralization. Fluoride toothpaste, for example, is essential in maintaining fluoride levels in the mouth.
Posters and Brochures
Posters and brochures to be used in the proposed program will be in written form. Placards will be used to provide the public with important information regarding their dental health (Riley et al., 2010). Leaflets and posters will also have pictures illustrating the mouth of a patient suffering from dental caries.
Commitment
The only resource requiring verbal or written commitment is professional expertise. The selected medical experts will be required to sign written obligations stating their readiness to serve patients by upholding high clinical and ethical standards (Lamont et al., 2013). It is a legal requirement for experts to sign a code of conduct. The document informs their professional and personal conduct in the course of their work.
Conclusion
It is essential to determine and acquire resources to ensure that a program succeeds. Without the necessary supplies, a project may suffer from different setbacks and ultimately, fail. The proposed dental caries management program requires various resources as described above. The resources will make it possible to meet the goals and objectives of the project.
References
Issel, L. (2013). Health program planning and evaluation: A practical, systematic approach for community health (3rd ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Lamont, R., Hajishengallis, G., & Jenkinson, H. (2013). Oral microbiology and immunology (2nd ed.). Washington, DC: ASM Press.
Riley, J., Gordan, V., Rindal, D., Fellows, J., Williams, O., Ritchie, L., & Gilbert, G. (2010). Use of caries preventive agents on adult patients compared to pediatric patients by general practitioners: Findings from The Dental Practice-Based Research Network. Journal of the American Dental Association, 141(6), 679-687. Web.