Please activate JavaScript!
Please install Adobe Flash Player, click here for download
ePaper created 2016-10-07, 10:41:07 | version 1.38.0
12 Dental Tribune United Kindgom Edition | 8/2016 TRENDS & APPLICATIONS Barbara Derham is always smiling. She has over 25 years of experi- ence as a dental hygienist, having worked in private practice in the UK and Ireland. In Ireland and inter- nationally, she is an established iTOP (individually Trained Oral Prophylaxis) instructor. Also, as a past President of the Irish Dental Hygienists’ Association (IDHA), she represents Irish dental hygienists around the world. However, never too busy to talk about her work, the importance of prevention and the advantages of iTOP, she spoke with Dental Tribune in an interview. Dental Tribune: Ms Derham, could you please tell us more about your background and current work? Barbara Derham: I am a dental hygienist and currently work in community dentistry specialising in children and adults with special needs. It has been 25 years since I qualified. Back then, dental hy- gienists were not legally permitted to work in Ireland. So I had to go to dental school in Scotland to train. After my graduation in 1990, I stayed in the UK for a year. Then came registration for dental hy- gienists in Ireland, so I moved back. I worked in private practice for a number of years and then community dentistry opened up for dental hygienists. I have re- mained there ever since. Working full time initially, but two days a week currently, teach- ing iTOP a number of times a year, contributing to the IDHA and hav- ing three school-going children, my weeks are kept busy. Within the association, we strive to pro- mote the study of oral health. I have a great deal of work to do and enjoy it every day. Do you like working with children? As I have been working with children for over 20 years, I would have to like it! Children are great because they are very honest even when their answers are not the ones I would like to hear. When one asks them about their daily toothbrushing, they typically say “maybe every day”. They are also more open to new ideas, while their parents may be more resist- ant to change. One can teach them really quickly. I use a great deal of plaque- disclosing solution. It is the perfect teaching tool for both patients and parents or carers. I start with touch to teach and practice good toothbrush position. They pick up the technique really quickly. They are lovely to work with. Special needs children and adults bring challenges to both oraltreatmentandhygiene.Some- times one has to think outside the box to fit oral hygiene into carers’ busy days. Mornings often bring early starts for children accessing transport and evenings can mean time given to medication delivery. Working with each individual to develop a tailored oral hygiene programme can take time and pa- tience, but brings very satisfying results. When did you start working with iTOP? Three years ago, I met CURAPROX at the International Symposium on Dental Hygiene in South Africa and they suggested that I come to the UK and attend a course. I loved it right away. Two weeks later, I was in Prague in the Czech Republic doing the teach- ers’ course and then came back to Ireland. Since 2014, we have offered iTOP courses in Ireland. We have run a number of courses so far and the response has been really good. I still meet colleagues who speak enthusiastically about it. They un- derstand the benefits and want to attend again to re-experience the feeling of the brushes. Usually, I ask them to brush their teeth first and then we assess their pressure. When I brush their teeth, they feel the difference. I take their hand and suddenly, they get it. Once one starts think- ing about brushing, one experi- ences a change. Some of the teaching sugges- tions through iTOP have been great. I especially enjoy suggest- ing to patients that they try brush- ing in the dark. It feels so different. One starts to develop mindful toothbrushing. You have also been an instructor at the iTOP for Students events in Prague, which take place twice a ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providersof continuing dental education. ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry. Join the largest educational network in dentistry! www.DTStudyClub.com – education everywhere and anytime – live and interactive webinars – more than 1,000 archived courses – a focused discussion forum – free membership – no travel costs – no time away from the practice – interaction with colleagues and experts across the globe – a growing database of scientific articles and case reports – ADA CERP-recognized credit administration register for FREE Dental Tribune Study Club AD Toothbrush first, cleaning after An interview with dental hygienist and iTOP instructor Barbara Derham, Ireland “Working with each individual to develop a tailored oral hygiene programme can take time and patience, but brings very satisfying results.” Dental Tribune spoke to Barbara Derham at the International Symposium on Dental Hygiene 2016 in Basel, Switzerland. Children can be taught very quickly, says Derham. © Syda Productions/Shutterstock.com