Intro to DH Assignment 2
By: Alicia M, Emma F, Hailey S
Area of Focus Dental Hygiene Profession Other Regulated Profession
Profession Specific Act Dental hygienists are governed by Optometrists are governed by the Regulated Health
(1 mark) the Regulated Health Professions Act Professions Act (RHPA) and have their own specific
(RHPA) and also have the Dental professional act which is the Optometrists Act, 1991.
Hygiene Act, 1991.
Legal Title (1 mark) Registered Dental Hygienist Doctor of Optometry
Scope of Practice (1 The practice of dental hygiene is the The practice of optometry is the assessment of the eye,
mark) assessment of teeth, their adjacent vision system, the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of:
tissues, the treatment by preventive disorders of refraction
and therapeutic means, the provision sensory and oculomotor disorder and dysfunctions
of restorative orthodontic of the eye and vision system, and prescribed
procedures and services. diseases
Authorized Controlled Authorized controlled acts include: 1. Communicating a diagnosis identifying, as the cause of a
Acts & Scaling and root planing, which person’s symptoms, a disorder of refraction, a sensory or
Conditions/Restrictions includes curetting surrounding oculomotor disorder of the eye or vision system or a
(2 marks) tissues. Orthodontic and restorative prescribed disease.
procedures. Also Prescribing, 2. Applying a prescribed form of energy.
dispensing, or selling a drug which 2.1 Prescribing drugs designated in the regulations.
are designated in the regulations. 3. Prescribing or dispensing, for vision or eye problems,
Dental hygienists’ restrictions are subnormal vision devices, contact lenses or eyeglasses.
that they cannot diagnose, use local Restrictions for optometrists is that they cannot perform any
anaesthetic, and give an x-ray eye surgeries, they are only allowed to prescribe a referral
without a referral from a dentist. for it.
Regulatory College College of Dental Hygienists of College of Optometrists of Ontario
(include website url) (2 Ontario [Link]
marks) [Link]
Mandate/Mission of Their mission is to regulate the To regulate Ontario’s Doctors of Optometry in the public
Regulatory College practice of all dental hygiene in the interest.
(1 mark) interest of the overall health and
safety of the public.
Council Structure Includes both public and professional Includes both public and professional members. Professional
(1mark) members. Professional members members include council and non-council member
include council and non-council optometrists.
member registered Dental Consists of 16-18 members total with 8 or 9 being
Hygienists. Consists of 9-12 optometrists who are voted in by their peers, and 7 or 8
registered hygienists voted for by being public members appointed by the provincial cabinet.
their peers, 8-11 public members Currently council meetings are held virtually and are
elected by the Ontario government, available to the public but doesn’t clearly state how many
and 2 faculty members from an annual meetings are held.
Ontario educational institution voted
for by registrants who are faculty.
Meetings are held 3 times a year,
open to the public.
2 Interesting Facts from An interesting fact about the website An interesting fact about the website was the Q&A section
the website (2 marks) is it offers links to those struggling where it gives clients answers/explanations to questions
financially with resources to pay for they could be afraid to ask in person, such as why they need
their dental care. Ranging from the to use a machine to puff air into the eye, if it’s necessary,
Healthy Smiles Ontario which helps and alternatives if a client can’t handle the procedure.
children under 17 in low-income Another thing I enjoy about the website is that it has a
households, to the future Canada search area to help find an optometrist located near you.
Dental Benefit which will help This tool would be very helpful for elderly who aren’t great
uninsured, low-income families. A at using technology or for someone who has moved to a
second interesting fact is the website new area.
offers current hygienists who are
pursuing their restorative certificate,
with approved schools and the
requirements needed to apply.
Part B
Benefits for client:
Having a hygienist and an optometrist collaborating to provide care will benefit the client in a few
different ways. First, the client will be able to gain knowledge of how the nerves and arteries connect
throughout the face, and how it may affect both the mouth and the eyes. According to B. K. Media
Group (2022), “research has also found that there is a link between eye conditions like glaucoma and
the health of your teeth. These diseases are often triggered by oral issues like decay, and gum diseases.
Most people start experiencing issues with their vision once their teeth begin to fall out.” This is
important to note because if an optometrist and a hygienist were to work collaboratively on a client
with glaucoma and/or other conditions linking the mouth and eyes, the client would better understand
the effect that oral health has on your overall health, especially in the head and neck region.
Collaborating with an optometrist could be beneficial to clients as improvement to their eyesight could
result in clients having a better ability to see their oral cavity, improve their understanding of their oral
health, and therefore allow them to be better capable at taking care of their teeth. This would benefit
clients because understanding the importance of their oral health can significantly increase their
motivation to keep up with brushing, flossing, and regular cleanings. In conclusion, optometry and
dental hygiene can improve client care because improved vision can help clients see issues within their
mouth and help them further grasp the importance of consistent oral care.
Benefits for hygienist/optometrist:
By collaborating with an optometrist, a dental hygienist can provide comprehensive care to patients
more effectively. Working together will improve patient communication and referrals. If a patient has an
eye condition that may have underlying systemic causes, a hygienist can consult with the optometrist to
explore potential connections. Having both an optometrist and a dental hygienist in the same working
environment will also result in much faster and more detailed patient care if each healthcare provider
respects professional boundaries and stays within the limits of their respective practices. This
interprofessional relationship could be beneficial, since working with an optometrist could improve the
dental hygienist's understanding of nerves, and their connection to the oral cavity. For example,
Infections in the tooth can spread and cause infections in the tear duct, eye socket and lower eyelid. As
Jarome Cyril (n.d) explains “there are several pathways for infection to spread. Infection of incisors and
canines spread mostly through the blood, premolars and molars spread via maxillary sinuses, and
wisdom teeth can reach the lower orbital fissure of the eye, along the upper jaw to the tear duct”.
Furthermore, this relationship could be beneficial to dental hygienists since it could help improve their
relationships with clients who may have difficulty seeing and therefore struggle to properly clean their
teeth. The hygienist could become more understanding and patient with clients who struggle with this,
leading to more trust and better relationships between client and professional. Overall, optometrists
and hygienists collaborating could result in hygienists furthering their understanding of facial arteries
and nerves, while also improving professional and client relationships and accommodations.
References page
College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario, Clinical Information Practice Standard for Dental Hygiene,
October 2010
College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario. (2023). Legislation and Bylaw. [Link]
College of Optometrists of Ontario. (2023). Legislations and By-laws. [Link]
us/legislation-and-by-laws/
Cyril, J. (n.d.). Risk to the eyes of a dental problem. [Link]
B. K. Media Group. (2022, July 8). The connection between your eyes and teeth. Access Health Dental.
[Link]
matters/
