Educating veterans with upper extremity amputation: to achieve oral health with daily modifications
Date
2022-04-15Author
Patton, Stacy
Hayes, Madison
Hoover, McKayla
Musson, Gracie
Van, Katelyn
Advisor
Delacruz, Natalie M.Metadata
Show full item recordCitation
Patton, Stacy; Hayes, Madison; Hoover, McKayla; Musson, Gracie; Van, Katelyn. 2022.
Educating veterans with upper extremity amputation: to achieve oral health with daily modifications -- In Proceedings: 21st Annual Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Forum. Wichita, KS: Wichita State University, p. 9
Abstract
The purpose of this applied program is to educate veterans, with limited
dexterity due to upper extremity loss, about the importance of oral hygiene with
modifications to achieve optimal oral health goals. The program follows veterans that
have upper extremity amputations, activity limitation, lower psychosocial adaptation, and
less prosthetic satisfaction while including the benefits of hygiene improvement after
educating physical therapists of toothbrush modifications. Wichita State Dental Hygiene
students will use the “tell-show-do” method to teach licensed physical therapists oral
homecare modifications. By demonstrating a variation of modifications for different
dental prostheses, licensed physical therapists will learn these techniques from the dental
hygiene students and be able to teach veterans who seek their care in their practices. A
modified version of brushing and flossing to help increase positive results in their
homecare. The modifications applied to items like toothbrushes and floss holders would
include using an object that would increase the diameter of the handle or adding
supportive bands to the handle and making it easier for the patient to hold. The physical
therapists will learn a variety of methods using a pool noodle, bike handle grip, tennis
ball, or rubber banded towel to help increase stability when trying to brush their teeth
with a toothbrush or using a floss holder that might be too slim to grip. The outcome of
the program will indicate that upper extremity amputee veterans will receive oral home
care methods from their physical therapists to improve oral health. Due to frequent
physical therapy appointments, the physical therapist can monitor technique and oral
health improvement on a routine basis. Through education and modification examples,
physical therapists discovered the connection between dental hygiene and their own
profession in regards to providing care to veterans with upper extremity amputation. With
this knowledge, amputees will develop an increased awareness of maintaining oral
hygiene in addition to comprehension of proper toothbrush modification instruction.
Description
Presented to the 21st Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Forum (URCAF) held at the Rhatigan Student Center, Wichita State University, April 15, 2022.