4. Established in 2003 under the umbrella of the Northern
Health Strategy
Initially composed of dental professionals in both Northern
Provincial and First Nations health jurisdictions along with
the College of Dentistry at both the UofS and UofM
Initial goals were to work together to improve oral health
and access to care utilizing a population health approach
Early accomplishments included:
Partnerships with the Colleges of Dentistry at the
Universities of Saskatchewan and Manitoba
Continuing Educations sessions
Standardized health promotion messaging and resources
To promote Best Practice Standards
Knowledge Transfer to communities and allied health
professions
5. Development and implementation of
standardized paper chart system
Exploration of e-record dental chart system
Development of a Oral Health Risk Assessment
Tool
Revision of Health Canada’s Children’s Oral
Health Initiative Fluoride Varnish train the trainer
manuals
Development of Anticipatory Guidance document
Facilitated standardized Infection Control
Procedures through training
Work with the Northern Healthy Eating Team to
promote healthy eating through collaboration
with the schools and Maternal Child Health
teams
6. Be a resource for dental public health at the
local, regional, provincial, and national levels
Work as an inter-jurisdictional team to
develop and implement best practices which
will improve oral and systemic health
outcomes of Northern Saskatchewan
residents
Support membership diversity to ensure
inter-professional and inter-jurisdictional
representation
7. As the Working Group evolved, the activities
coalesced in three areas:
1. Improving Service Delivery
2. Increase Access to Care
3. Vehicle for Continuing Education
8. Discuss new and innovating ways
of providing care
◦ Preventive services:
Knee to knee
Home visits
Fluoride
◦ Treatment Services
Amalgam vs resin
Stainless steel crowns
Nitrous vs general anesthetic
ART
9. Discuss methods for providing care:
◦ Ideas for program delivery
◦ Sealants – target age groups
◦ Calibration
◦ Xylitol
◦ Best practice methods
◦ Best practice materials
10.
11. Projects and Resource development
◦ GA Waiting room educational poster
◦ Childs’ First Visit to the Dentist by age 1
◦ Open cup starting at 6 months
◦ Fluoride varnish education – videos and pictures
◦ Drop the Pop initiative – with permission from the
North West Territories - revamped the school
based teaching manual in conjunction with the
Ministry of Education
16. Use appropriate
size of cup
Start with only
water
Baby does not
need juice, pop,
or other sugary
beverages
17.
18. Smoothie parties
in the schools
Prize bags given to children
for Dental Health Month
Sugar bottle display activity
19. Sharing Ideas
◦ Volume orders
◦ Dental Health Month promotion
◦ Combined services – sharing service delivery
20. Received at the National Conference in
September 2016 in Edmonton.
This award recognizes the efforts of groups
and individuals, in improving the oral health
of all Canadians. These efforts can include,
but are not limited to, administrative work,
inter-professional education, and health
promotion.
21. Chair of the NOHWG, Penny Griffith from the
Athabasca Health Authority, accepted the
award on behalf of the group.
