In this episode, Jackie Sanders and Andrew Johnston sit down with Tracee Dahm, BSDH, MS, during RDH Under One Roof to discuss her team’s research examining oral health care in nursing homes and long-term care facilities. The conversation explores why caregivers often recognize the importance of oral health but struggle to consistently provide it, the growing needs of an aging population, and the systemic barriers that continue to limit access to care.
Tracy also shares how her multi-year scoping review came together, the importance of mentorship and collaboration in research, and why advocacy remains essential to expanding oral health services for some of our most vulnerable patients.
In this episode, we discuss:
The current state of oral health care in nursing homesWhy positive attitudes toward oral health don’t always translate into patient careThe impact of staffing shortages, time constraints, and limited resourcesHow research teams collaborate across institutions and time zonesThe role of mentorship in developing new researchersWhy advocacy is critical to improving access to care for older adultsPractical opportunities for dental hygienists to make a difference in long-term careConnect with Tracee Dahm:
Email: [email protected]Social media: @tsdahm