Dental health education for the blind at Perkins School in Watertown, Massachusetts
Date
1977
DOI
Authors
Schnuth, Mary Lee
Perkins School for the Blind
Version
OA Version
Citation
Abstract
This project provided basic dental health education to a group of people at Perkins School for the Blind. Most of the clients at the school visit their own private dentists, and they are also eligible to visit the dental clinic at Perkins. Unlike the clients at Perkins, much of the blind population has been neglected by the dental profession. The dental health education program was designed to teach a blind population about prevention of dental disease and other concepts of oral health. Understanding the handicap of this population was a requirement prior to developing the program. The program was intended to improve the awareness and to improve the oral hygiene habits and oral health status of the blind population involved. These persons were given a running word picture during the program.
From the lack of literature that could be found on the subject of dentistry for the blind, it might be assumed that there is a neglect of dental services and dental health education for these people. Since most are also multiply handicapped, it is probable that they exhibit more numerous oral defects than normal.[4] The need for personal oral hygiene instruction for the blind has been verbalized but not necessarily set into action in the populations studied.[6] This is one reason the project was of importance not only to those directly involved, but to future clients at Perkins School.
The institutionalized blind person often requires better dental health education and care because of the multiple handicaps they exhibit. Perkins is not considered an institution, but rather a residence. Most of the clients return home to their families on weekends and holidays. The sixteen resident clients who participated in the program were in need of oral hygiene instruction because of the lack of adequate supervision of oral hygiene procedures the program staff is able to provide.
Description
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Thesis (M.Sc.)--Boston University, Henry M. Goldman School of Graduate Dentistry, 1977 (Dental Public Health).
Includes bibliography: (leaf 16).
Thesis (M.Sc.)--Boston University, Henry M. Goldman School of Graduate Dentistry, 1977 (Dental Public Health).
Includes bibliography: (leaf 16).
License
This work is protected by copyright. Downloading is restricted to the BU community. If you are the author of this work and would like to make it publicly available, please contact open-help@bu.edu.