450: The Geriatric Tooth Fairy – Saving Our Seniors - Sonya Dunbar - a podcast by ACT Dental

The Geriatric Tooth Fairy – Saving Our Seniors

Episode #450 with Sonya Dunbar

Some of our seniors become invisible. And that means they are not well-cared-for — especially when it comes to oral health. But there are ways that dentists can help, and Kirk Behrendt brings in Sonya Dunbar, speaker, educator, and CEO of The Geriatric Tooth Fairy, to share how mobile dentistry can save our seniors. Let's take care of our greatest generation! For the best advice from the tooth fairy, listen to Episode 450 of The Best Practices Show!

Main Takeaways:

Long-term care patients have a great need for oral care.

Mobile dentistry is for everyone, not just the underserved.

You can diversify your financial portfolio with mobile dentistry.

Teledentistry and mobile dentistry are great ways to branch out.

Spread smiles, love, and respect for seniors who come into your office.

Quotes:

“My grandmother had an upper denture and lower teeth, and I noticed that the CNAs in the nursing home weren't even taking out her denture — let alone brushing her teeth. So, of course, I didn't care because I was there every morning and every night, so I did it. But one day, when I was in her room, her roommate said, ‘Sweetie, can you brush my teeth? They don't come out like your grandmother’s.’ So, I said, ‘Of course!’ So, I went over to her bed and started looking through the drawers, and I didn't see a toothbrush. I went to the bathroom. There wasn't a toothbrush. I went to the nurse’s station. There wasn't a toothbrush in the building.” (2:59—3:32)

“A lot of home health care companies called me for me to train their home health aides on how to properly take care of the teeth. And one thing I noticed, I could train them all how to brush teeth and how to deal with a dementia patient. But they need to know the diseases and sicknesses connected to oral care. I connect the mouth to the body. But so many non-dental people separate the mouth from overall health. So, I draw a real good picture about diabetes, heart disease, even urinary tract infections — so many things that are connected. There are over 200 known diseases and sicknesses connected to the mouth.” (7:23—8:01)

“Some people think that mobile dentistry is just for the underserved. But no, it’s not. Mobile dentistry is for everyone.” (13:11—13:17)

“I encourage [dentists] to extend an arm outside of their practice with teledentistry and mobile dentistry. Maybe send your hygienists out to people that may be in a nursing home or to the school. Give them the teledentistry camera and let them do the exams. The dentists could do the exams. The hygienists could do the cleaning. And that frees up a chair in your office.”  (13:59—14:20)

“I think [dentists] least understand how to get started. People don't understand that there are steps in getting started. Just like there are steps in starting a brick-and-mortar practice, there are steps in getting started in mobile [dentistry].” (14:56—15:13)

“I met a young dentist out of California. She has the van, and she goes to stay-at-home moms. And she’ll get a whole zip code. And she targeted that, splashed it out with marketing. Those mothers are calling her. She has a waiting list in certain zip codes. And if it’s a mother and father and two or three kids, and you do all those exams and cleanings and whatever they need, and then go to another, you've made your production and you're staying in the area. Everybody knows gas is outrageous right now. But just staying in that same area, you're driving around, but you're bringing it to them.” (16:19—16:59)

“[Another dentist] does mobile ortho. He does mobile ortho and Invisalign. He goes to a space, texts all these people, tells them when they're going to be there. They line up and come to him. And he has a big bus. He has an old school bus. Can you...

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