In November 2022, the Ohio Department of Health adopted changes to ORC 3701-18 which updated the oral health curriculum to reflect best practice, address oral-systemic health, and provide oral care instruction inclusive of all nursing facility residents.
Curriculum updates were led by Oral Health Ohio and authored by University of Cincinnati Dental Hygiene Technology Program faculty Luke Burroughs, RDH, MPH, Associate Professor Program Director, and Molly Mihlbachler, RDH, MS, Assistant Professor of Dental Hygiene.
Luke and Molly presented updates to the oral health curriculum to the Ohio Health Care Association on February 24, 2024.
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Oral health has a direct link to overall health, as well as to quality of life and general well-being. Poor oral health can increase the risk for heart disease, stroke, and aspiration pneumonia. Nurse aides, with the proper instruction, are in an excellent position to help reduce these consequences of poor oral health, as well as preventing common oral diseases such as dental decay, periodontal disease, and oral cancer.
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