Speaker: Arlynn Brodie RDH, MHS, PhD

Program Track: Clinical

Course Description: Oral health is a key indicator of overall health, well-being, and quality of life; however, resident oral health in long term care (LTC) homes remains poor despite many years of research and intervention. Institutional ethnography (IE), a new lens from which to explore the LTC oral health problem, suggests the institutional organization of LTC homes could be a contributing factor to resident’s poor oral health. Results show that health care aides (HCAs), in the absence of textual guidance from regulation and standards, relied on their personal experiences and used their discretion to provide oral care for residents. This presentation will provide insight as to why HCAs are relying on their own devices to provide oral care and offer suggestions for policy and practice changes.

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss why residents in long term care homes may be experiencing poor oral health.
• Describe the importance of guiding texts in relation to the oral health of residents in long term care.
• Identify the next steps in policy and practice to improve oral care in long term care.

CE Credit Hours: 1.0

Original Date of Session: November 19, 2025

The American Dental Hygienists' Association is designated as an approved provider by the American Academy of Dental Hygiene, Inc. #AADHADH (Jan. 1, 2025–Dec. 31, 2025). Approval does not imply acceptance by a state or provincial Board of Dentistry. Licensee should maintain this document in the event of an audit.

The American Dental Hygienists’ Association is an approved provider of dental continuing education as recognized by the Dental Board of California, Provider #5238.