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PORTLAND, Maine

'Bangor Daily News' publishes op-ed by UNE dental hygiene student

L-R: Regina Arey, Cassidy Banville and Sarah Fogg
L-R: Regina Arey, Cassidy Banville and Sarah Fogg

Dental hygiene student Regina Arey (’17) has authored an op-ed for the Bangor Daily News about her IPEC Mini-grant project.

After observing the dental care provided to one of her relatives in a nursing home, Arey was inspired to develop a student-led project to address oral healthcare issues in the aging population. For their IPEC Mini-grant, Arey and student collaborators Cassidy Banville (Dental Hygiene, ’17)­­, Carolyn Dacey (Dental Hygiene, ’17), Sarah Fogg (Dental Hygiene, ’17), Casey Fisher (COP, ’19) and Heather Smith (MSOT, ’17) have been conducting training sessions at nursing homes and heathcare facilities around southern Maine. 

In preliminary trainings, the students first spoke with staff and residents to assess their questions and concerns regarding oral care. They then created an educational presentation tailored to these questions, addressing the need for daily brushing, flossing and cleaning of partials or dentures. In addition, they discussed oral bone degeneration, as well as medications that can cause dry mouth and other oral health problems. Dental models were utilized to demonstrate proper flossing and flossing technique, as well as denture cleaning.

Speaking about the project, Arey stated “I truly believe this interprofessional project will not only benefit the students and staff involved but also the community as a whole.”

At St. Andre Health Care Facility in Biddeford, ME, Infection Control Practitioner Sue Gagnier noted that the presentation was a helpful tool for staff, as well as a great way to raise awareness for the importance of oral health. Staff at Gorham House in Gorham also gave positive feedback, inviting Arey and her colleagues for a second training this winter.

Read Arey's op-ed in the Bangor Daily News.

Read the Journal Tribune article.

Read the American Journal article.

 

To learn more about the University of New England's Interprofessional Education Collaborative, visit www.une.edu/wchp/ipec

To learn more about the Department of Dental Hygiene, visit www.une.edu/wchp/dental

To apply, visit www.une.edu/admissions

Casey Fisher discusses how medications impact oral health
Casey Fisher discusses how medications impact oral health
Carolyn Dacey demonstrates the proper brushing technique
Carolyn Dacey demonstrates the proper brushing technique
Cassidy Banville discusses denture cleaning
Cassidy Banville discusses denture cleaning

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.